COASTAL villagers west of Port Moresby were hit hard by the roadblock at Baruni village, catching dinghies to and from work yesterday.
BELOW: The roadblock at Baruni village; and Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki promises a thorough investigation at a press conference yesterday. Pictures: TARAMI LEGEI
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has expressed regret and sadness at the police killings at Hanuabada village on Friday but a state of impasse has developed late yesterday. “I extend the nation’s sym-
pathies to the families of the young men who were killed on Friday,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
Villagers maintained the roadblocks through the village and at Badihagwa bypass
aided by another roadblock at neighbouring Baruni village to completely isolate the PNG LNG Project plant and shipping facilities at the PapaLealea by road.
While acknowledging Mr
O’Neill’s appealed for calm, the villagers however were unmoved by a last-minute plea last night by Motu-Koita Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu to lift the roadblocks.
CONTINUED PAGE 2
ITIS tragic that 11 years ago a government-sanctioned report recommended the removal of all auxiliary and reserve units attached to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). Most of the recommendations of the 2004 Report of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Administrative Review Committee were not taken up and implemented by the then government.
The termination of the auxiliary and reserve units from the constabulary was amongst a list of recommendations put to the government. Other areas of concern included police morale and discipline, government action, accountability, transparency and corporate governance, community confidence and trust, auxiliaries, reserves and mobile squads, basic resources, mobility and effectiveness, pay and conditions, effective policing operations, strategic directions and consolidating reform.
But it is the direct reference in the report to auxiliaries, reserves and the mobile squads that stands out following the events of last Friday when Hanuabada villagers
Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi were shot dead. While a police investigation ordered by the Police Commissioner is now underway into the killings, members of the NCD reserve police have allegedly been linked to the shooting.
It is sad that 11 years after the publishing of the report nothing has changed in terms of the illegal acts that members of the constabulary continue to promote and engage in. It is an indictment of the deteriorating state of affairs of the constabulary.
“Some regular, reserve and auxiliary members have committed lawless acts while wearing police uniforms. Their undisciplined and violent actions have brought fear and distrust to the community and resulted in major compensation claims to government. Immediate action should be taken to enforce discipline. The committee considers that the roles and responsibilities of the auxiliaries and reserves should be reviewed and clarified. When this has occurred, the appointments of all auxiliaries and reserves should be terminated, and a limited number of those who meet the new standards be invited to reapply for a three year term of appointment,” stated the report.
Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa, who was the Internal Security Minister in the Somare government in 2004 when he signed off on the review report, told this newspaper last night that the loss of command and control was the biggest problem facing the constabulary.
While acknowledging increased funding to the RPNGC under the O’Neill-Dion government since the publishing of the report 11 years ago, Mr Kimisopa warned that the politicisation of the police force was also beginning to take its toll and is leading to more problems.
There is no doubt that the 2004 report is still very much relevant to modern day PNG. The problems that the policemen and women continue to face are the same challenges from 11 years ago. There is an urgent need for someone to take ownership of the report and its recommendations and to drive it for the betterment of the constabulary and the people they swore an oath to protect. We look forward to the outcome of the Port Moresby Police investigations and for the charging and prosecution of those responsible for the two deaths in PNG’s largest urban village.
The bottom line
Index
Asia news .............................36
Bougainville Today ..............18
..........................19-22 Classifieds .......................40-44
..................................39
Post.....................15
news...............4-9, 12-13
Post .........................17 Mamose Post .......................16
................................51-60
......................................39
.................................39
Guide .............................45
EDITOR
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A PAPUA New Guinea cardiac surgeon says there is a team in place at the Port Moresby General Hospital to set up a cardiothoracic unit to treat heart patients.
Dr Noah Tapaua returned two weeks ago after undergoing further training in Singapore at the National Health Institute where he also got a job to help pay for his second year of training.
He has returned from training confident of help-
ing to start the cardiothoracic unit. The proposal for the set up of this unit is now before the Government.
Both he and senior physician Dr Weson Boko, who is still undergoing training in interventional cardiology in Singapore, were at the office of the Government’s Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc yesterday to talk about the proposal.
The proposed unit, costing millions, will be set up in stages which will cater for training, a catheterisation
laboratory or cath lab and heart specialist equipment.
Dr Tapaua said most Papua New Guineans dying of heart diseases such as heart attack are elite members or those who are at the peak of their careers and their deaths are losses to the country.
But without the set up of a cardiac unit, there was not much that PMGH could do to save lives of heart patients.
The PNG cardiac team want to start in April and will ini-
tially need K206,419.10, to be followed by the second part of the cost which will be K292,439.61. Dr Tapaua said PMGH management supports the idea and have allocated space in the hospital for this unit but its request for funding for the project in next year’s National Budget had been knocked back.
In Singapore, a coronary angiogram costs K30,000 and a cardiac surgery is K60,000 which excludes costs like air fares, accommodation and food.
FROM PAGE 1
EARLIER, Moresby Northwest MP Michael Malabag, whose electorate covers Hanuabada, handed K40,000 to the victims’ families, urging them to remove the roadblocks.
The Motu-Koita Assembly had resolved in the morning to a compensation package of K22 million for the Hanuabada deaths
and injuries, and a further K10 million for the Tatana village police shooting a week earlier. In more positive developments yesterday: Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki announced that police were allowed into the village to investigate the shooting deaths of Nicholas Rarua, 36, and Toka Gaudi, 29, with a team led by Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa.
The Government asks Chief Secretary to Government Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc to convene a national security advisory council immediately meeting to discuss and address “continued unaccepted police behaviour”. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said he would discuss the prospect of declared buai areas with NCD Governor Powes Parkop.
THE villagers at the meeting yesterday called for compensation.
JIWAKA police chief Joseph Tondop’s rapid reflex most probably saved him from being shot by trigger-happy and drunk policemen in another province on the weekend.
Superintendent Tondop recalled yesterday that he stared down the barrel of a gun in Eastern Highlands Province on Saturday night.
He said those pointing the gun were policemen who were allegedly drunk in civilian clothes.
He was returning from a week’s holiday on Karkar Island in Madang Province with his family when he confronted the three armed men in plainclothes and heavily intoxicated who were conducting a roadblock at Barola, Kainantu.
THE road block at Baruni outside the national capital, in response to last weekend’s shooting of two men in Hanuabada, forced city-based workers to travel by dinghy into town. Those from Porebada were seen getting off at Ela Beach.
A DOG was hit by a car recently along Bava Street outside the PC residential gate. A Sariba Island youngster came out, saw it and goes: “I wanna vomit, I wanna vomit”. The reaction triggered this reply from an uncle: “Just trout!” Trout is the Tok Pisin word for vomit.
THE MENU
SOON a cab driver pulled up next to the carcass and asked what time the animal was hit. He loaded it into the boot of his car and took off after he was told “few minutes ago”. But not before telling the Boroko residents that the carcass will be put in a mumu for dinner.
ANZ CARD
CLOSE: Jiwaka Police chief Joseph Tondop had an close call when he was confronted by three drunk, armed policemen conducting a roadblock at Barola, Kainantu.
REFLEX: His quick response to the situation ensured he was not a casualty to the confrontation.
DISCIPLINE: He wants an investigation, arrests made.
When Supt Tondop approached to enquire, one of them pointed his gun at him and cocked it. Mr Tondop quickly identified himself and wanted to know why they were in civilian clothing, heavily drunk and armed.
He stood them down and called his Eastern Highlands
counterpart John Kale to investigate, arrest, charge and discipline them.
“This will be a warning to all policemen and women. When you are drunk or in civilian clothes, you should not arm yourselves and do your job. You are only dragging the name of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary through the mud,” Supt Tondop said.
He said the three policemen were from Kainantu police and the way they were conducting the roadblock indicated it was a daily occurrence.
“How can policemen and women get drunk, dress in civilian clothes and do their job properly? This can’t continue and these three should be dealt with appropriately.”
Supt Tondop raised his complaint with Highlands
police chief Teddy Tei yesterday.
Last Thursday, two regular policemen and two auxiliary members followed up on a complaint and collected K10,000, money belonging to an old woman.
Instead of returning the money to the woman the four used it to buy alcohol.
During the day, they were drunk at the Banz police station and terrorised everybody there.
Members of Banz police station were tipped off about the money and the four were arrested and charged with stealing. They were refused bail and are behind bars in Banz.
Supt Tondop said criminals in police uniform did not belong in the police force and appropriate actions will be taken if the allegations proved true.
CAN A Nana Yapea contact the following numbers 3241431 or 72099018? You left your ANZ card at an ATM machine. Identification is necessary as well as details on which ATM you last used and what time.
THE Bank of PNG should dispatch officers to check out the activities of fast money scheme proponents who meet regularly at the Apex Park at Boroko. The fraudsters continue to mislead unsuspecting Papua New Guineans on their billions saved overseas.
PALACE
ANY truth in reports of an MP hosting a housewarming feast at one of his most recently commissioned properties. His property is multi-bedroomed and looks like a presidential palace. The quality of the workmanship has got voters querying the source of funding.
YOU have to hand it to the PNG Hunters management for standing their ground on the return from the UK of rugby league star and former Hunters Gary Lo. He has to start from scratch just like everyone else.
AUSSIE OI
HAPPY Australia Day to all our Aussie friends. But the celebrations Down South were somewhat hijacked by the decision by PM Tony Abbott to give a knighthood to Prince Philip, the hubby of Her Majesty!
POLITICIANS including coalition partners in the Abbott government described the award as “embarrassing” and said it took the shine away from the announcement of the 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, an antiviolence campaigner.
PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg
THISflying machine,
or what once used to be the latest in aero technology will be put on display at the Museum as a reminder of the past. It is our duty to preserve such artefacts for the future generations. Seen here is a young boy admiring what is left of the plane at the museum.Picture: TARAMI LEGEI
FAILURE by authorities 11 years ago to fully implement the recommendations of a report that pushed for the termination of auxiliary and reserve police has come back to haunt the country.
The Somare governmentcommissioned 2004 Report of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Administrative Review Committee promoted reforms within the constabulary, with a specific emphasis on accountability and transparency, community confidence and trust and auxiliaries, reserves and mobile squads amongst others.
Reserve police have allegedly been linked with the shooting last Friday at the Hanuabada village in the national capital, which left two young men dead and three others injured and triggered a protest march by disgruntled villagers to the RPNGC headquarters.
The 11-year-old report made reference to “lawless acts” committed by some regular, reserve and auxiliary members while wearing police uniforms and used this as justification for their termination from service.
“Their undisciplined and violent actions have brought fear and distrust to the community and resulted in major compensation claims to Government. Immediate action should be taken to enforce discipline. The committee (of the report) considers that the roles and responsibilities of the auxiliaries and reserves should be reviewed and clarified. When this has occurred, the appointments of all auxiliaries and reserves should be terminated, and a limited
ALL firearms must be withdrawn from police officers and locked away in the armouries to clamp down on the indiscriminate shootings by members of the police force, says a former parliamentarian.
Former community development minister and Moresby North-East MP, Andrew Mald said the recent killings of innocent Hanubadan villagers in the nation’s capital highlights the danger the Police force in the country has become.
At a glance
RECOMMENDATION: The reserve and auxilary police were recommended to be terminated in the 2011 police report.
REASON: The conduct of members of the reserve and auxilary police were undisciplined and their actions were violent that it brought fear and distrust to the community and resulted in compensation claims to the government.
number of those who meet the new standards be invited to reapply for a three-year term of appointment,” stated the report.
Goroka MP Bire Kimisopa, who commissioned the report in 2004 when he was the Internal Security Minister in the Somare government, told the Post-Courier last night from Goroka that the “loss of command and control” within the constabulary was contributing to its overall demise.
“My view is that if we had better command and control structure within the police force, I think we can certainly deal with law and order in a substantial way. There is a lot to be done for the RPNGC; there really is no budgetary issue. We need substantial investment in the command and control structure,” he said.
Coincidentally, the current Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has also publicly pushed for the disbanding of the auxiliary and reserve police units attached to the constabulary. He made the call after announcing an investigation into last Friday’s shooting.
“I am shocked at the killing of ordinary citizens, the police force is becoming a law unto itself,” Mr Mald said.
“The Government must step in quickly and enforce control and command in the force to end the senseless killing of people by members of the police force using high powered guns.”
He said: “Enough is enough! Policemen must go back to arming themselves with batons and all the firearms must be kept under lock and key. The firearms must be released to the policemen for special operations only and at no other times.”
Mr Mald said the killings had damaged relations between the police force and the community, which viewed the police force as enemy number one and in some instances, members of the force were attached or killed in recent months around the country.
“When you have a situation where the police force, which is constitutionally bound to protect lives and property, starts killing, it becomes very frightening,” he said.
“Those in the previous killings as well as the recent ones must be held accountable according to law.” He said fully armed policemen in civilian clothes going around Port Moresby in unmarked vehicles is worrying.
MP for Moresby Northwest Michael Malabag has given K40,000 to the victims’ families at Hanuabada village and urged them remove the road-
blocks. “I gave K20,000 each to the victims’ families and since the police have started investigations into the killings, I appeal to the people to remove the
road blocks on the Badihagwa bypass and at Baruni.” Mr Malabag who is Health Minister, said last night companies, including the PNG LNG project
were affected.
“I ask the law abiding citizens of Hanuabada to allow the law to take its course for justice to prevail,” Mr Malabag said.
POLICY elements relating to the Port Moresby betelnut ban must be addressed and clarification provided, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said yesterday.
“There has been a great deal of argument over the buai ban since it was introduced and there is room for improvement,” he said.
“The Government will work with NCDC to address elements of the buai ban where there can be improvements.
“I am of the view that specific locations need to be developed to facilitate the buying of buai, and also provide a safe place to chew.
“Action had to be taken and measures need to be in place to prevent the transmission of illnesses such as TB when people spit.
“In addition to the health issues, there are also many concerns relating to the image of the nation as we continue to open up to the world.
POLICE have been allowed to enter the coastal village of Hanuabada in Moresby Northwest to investigate the shooting deaths of two young men on Friday.
Villagers who witnessed the confrontation between police and villagers had been asked to give statements at the Metoreia Hall in Lahara.
Police Commissioner
Geoffrey Vaki had directed an immediate investigation into the alleged police shooting as soon as he was made aware of it by angry villagers who had marched to the police headquarters at Konedobu hours after the
shootings.
“My direction is very clear, and it was that a team was to be put together to go and liaise with leaders from Hanuabada and have a matrix where all the witnesses were to be identified, statements to be collected to identify which unit is
responsible,” Mr Vaki said. He said that if they were identified, the normal procedure would take place in which they would be immediately suspended pending full investigation.
NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa would lead a team of police
investigators to resolve this case, Mr Vaki said, brushing aside suggestions that materials collected from witnesses may be tampered with.
He said he was sick and tired of policemen and women diminishing the reputation and the integrity of the force.
He said that all police personnel were taught about firearms, rules of engagement and procedures and when and where to use lethal force.
“NCOs and commanders with them on the front line are to exercise absolute strict command and control on the use of arms so we don’t have officers becom-
ing trigger-happy and firing here and there,” Mr Vaki said.
He said that the best weapon an officer can use in terms of dealing with issues was his body and the word of mouth, to communicate.
“I have reissued instructions to the divisional commanders to remind their men and women on the use of arms, procedures and assessments of situations when to use lethal force.”
Mr Vaki there must be a lot of command and control and wanted policemen and women back in the classroom for refresher training in self-discipline and discipline on the use of firearms.
“It is very sickening for tourists and business people when they come to Papua New Guinea and see our residents spitting.”
Mr O’Neill said he would further advance the prospect of declared buai areas in discussion with Governor Powes Parkop and NCDC.
POLICY: The elements relating to the Port Moresby betelnut must be must be addressed and clarified said, PM Peter O’Neill. ARGUMENT: There has been a great deal of argument over the buai ban since it was introduced and their is room for improvement said PM. PLAN: The Government will work with NCDC to address the buai ban issue.
PREVENTION: Action must be taken and measures put in place to stop the transmission of diseases such as TB. TOURISM: It is sickening for tourists and business people to see betelnut spit in the city when they come.
MOTU-Koita Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu was shouted down with “lasi” – no – yesterday when he appealed to his fellow villagers to tear down their roadblocks which were affecting businesses, especially the PNG LNG Project processing facilities at PapaLealea, west of the capital. All access by road to the facilities were blocked at Hanuabada and by the Tatana people at Baruni.
The Motu-Koita Assembly had resolved at its meeting in the morning that the roadblocks be lifted. Mr Ikupu relayed the resolution to the villagers who replied with “lasi”.
The majority at the meeting at Hanuabada village wanted the roadblocks maintained so that their voices could be heard and their demands met.
The assembly had also
passed a resolution that the State pays K22 million in compensation – K10 million for each for the two deaths and K2 million for villagers injured or who lost property during the police raid on Friday
The assembly also wanted the fatal police shooting at nearby Tatana village the previous weekend thoroughly investigated.
If police were at fault, then a compensation of K10 million
was in order, it resolved.
Mr Ikupu had thanked the villagers for being peaceful during the past four days but maintained that for normalcy and stability to return to the community it was best to remove the roadblocks which may also interfere with police investigations. He reminded parents that children may be affected when school starts next week. The meeting was tense and
there was a near confrontation happened between Mr Ikupu’s supporters and the more militant villagers.
Family members of one of the deceased said that they were upset that they were not consulted on the Motu-Koita Assembly resolutions.
“The family wants the want the roadblocks to be maintained,” said Mahuru Toka, brother of one of the victims Toka Gaudi.
and increases serotonin in the brain, which leads to improved mental clarity.
WOMEN and young girls with disabilities continue to become victims of abuse, says founder and chairman of Kapi Foundation, Brown Kapi.
Mr Kapi said according to the PNG Rehabilitation Centre, there are a lot of unreported cases of women and young girls, particularly those with disabilities, who have become victims of verbal or sexual abuse but are too afraid to report the matter to the police or relevant authorities.
PWDs throughout the country are given special providers, where people are entrusted to provide assistance to these group of people with special needs.
“However, there are some service providers who have taken advantage of their role by sexually or verbally abusing young girls and women with disabilities,” he said.
A classic example of this is the case of Winnie Weoa, a woman with hearing and speech impairment who was thrown out of her home forcefully by her in laws following the death of her husband.
This is not the only case, we have heard of many other stories relating to female PWDs been abused by their family members or members within the community, Mr Kapi said. In most cases, these are some of the serious but silent cases affecting those special people who can not defend themselves.
BY FRANKIY KAPIN
THE main reason for the nonpayment of the K4000 duty allowances to each teacher for disadvantaged teachers in remote Morobe Province is the ceasing of the network database to process the payments.
Headmaster of Engati Primary school in Menyamya, Saunu Wilikiow, who spoke on behalf of the affected teachers, said there are more than 100 disadvan-
tage schools in Morobe. Mr Wilikiow said each of the 100 schools should at least have seven teachers on average and multiplied by K4000, that gives an average of K2,800,000 that is owed as duty allowances.
The disadvantage allowance is paid annually at the end of the academic year by the provincial administration, a sum of K4000 to teachers categorised as disadvantaged, mostly in remote settings. But for last
year (2014), the disadvantage teachers in Morobe Province are yet to receive the allowance despite resumption of teachers this week for the 2015 academic year.
Morobe provincial education adviser Keith Jiram met with the teachers and assured them that all payments will be done by the end of this month.
Mr Jiram addressed the teachers yesterday at the Tutumang Haus in Lae and told them that the delay
resulted from outstanding bills owed to Digicel PNG Limited for the usage of their database service.
He said the issue has been sorted out and urged all teachers affected to resume duties this week as payments will be made by the end of the week.
In the meantime, a reliable source within the Morobe provincial administration says it does not owe Digicel PNG outstanding payments for the use of its database
system. The source, who requested anonymity, said there is an agreement between the two parties and the annual payment of K33,000 has been paid to Digicel towards the end of last year. Digicel PNG Limited denied claims by the Morobe provincial education office of being owed, resulting in their services being cut off and affecting the delay in the 2014 duty allowance payments for disadvantage teachers.
TIOMDI Marcellus (pictured) is from Kutubaewa village in Gulf Province.
It takes one hour by plane to get to the nearest airsrip at Kaintiba from Port Moresby.
It costs a little more than K10,000 for him and five of his children to get home.
Mr Marcellus is a primary school teacher working in Central Province. He was one of the many who could not go home for a deserved break last year because the Education authorities denied his application for six weeks annual leave inclusive of all service travel at the cost of K10,700. Education only paid for a one way ticket to Kaintiba.
He refused to travel and was among other teachers calling for higher authorities to investigate teachers’ leave fare entitlements.
This week, Mr Marcellus, who should be resuming duties in Kailaki Primary School in Central Province, faces another
problem – the school does not have a teacher’s house for him.
Last year, when his leave was approved, together with other Central Province teachers, all were asked to collect their tickets from a travel agent in Gordon, Port Moresby. He was shown a warrant of K5200 at the travel agent which took out 12 per cent for its service fees and another five per cent, claiming it was for the “Central Province education officers”. Disappointed, Mr Marcellus did not go home.
Yesterday, he came into the Post-Courier office and called for authorities to investigate why Central Province received K2.3 million yet authorities denied many teachers’ rightful dues.
“I want an investigation into the 5 per cent service fee for Central Province education officers. Are officers supposed to remove these fees from the teachers? If there is such, it must be properly explained to the teachers,” Mr Marcellus said.
He said despite the transport woes faced by people in remote Gulf, in the past he would make the trip to Kaintiba and walk home, or sometimes getting to Malalaua, and taking two days to walk home.
On a few occasions, he (without family) and fellow teachers from that same area would fly to Bulolo, take a three-hour drive to Aseki and another 11 hours to cross a provincial border into Kutubaewa.
He said this would have been avoided if things were done the right way.
Governor Powes Parkop has announced a tuberculosis support centre initiative in partnership with Digicel.
He said yesterday more than 144,000 people within the National Capital District had been contacted since last month.
“The motive behind this initiative was to educate our city residents about the disease and I’m proud to say that we’ve reached 83 per cent of our target,” Mr Parkop said.
THE mother of a young asthma patient is among a group of patients and health workers who are opposing the idea of a private hospital managing Gerehu Hospital.
On Friday, they gathered with placards and banners outside the hospital to express their disapproval of the Government’s plan to engage Pacific International Hospital to manage Gerehu Hospital.
“My baby grew up in this hospital. He is asthmatic and I’ve been going and coming here at anytime to
get treatment. It opens 24 hours a day and it is free.
All I do is pay a taxi and I come here and get free service,’’ said Dalita Osa in Tok Pisin
“Life is difficult enough in the city and if PIH takes over, things might be different. I would have lost my child if PIH was here because of the way it operates.’’
A staff member also expressed similar sentiments, saying the bulk of Papua New Guineans feel free to come to Gerehu
Hospital because they know it is a public hospital, but the thought of coming to a hospital managed by a private hospital may not be a good idea for these people.
The hospital staff in the group protesting ranged from cleaners to doctors.
Two weeks ago, this newspaper had reported from an interview with PIH chief executive officer Dr Amyna Sultan that it would not be controlling the financial aspect of the Gerehu hospital, including salaries of staff, but this group has
MILNE Bay Province plans to have an effective medical referral system in place by 2017.
This means a lot of aid posts would be maintained under individual open MP’s K3 million DSIP health component and development partners.
The province has 150 registered aid posts including three new posts built last year that meet the National Health Service standards. Two aid posts are waiting the signing of contracts.
The rest of the facilities are to be implemented as per the provincial health authority schedule and are subject to funding by Members of Parliament, the Government and developments partners.
Billy Naidi, the chief executive officer for the province’s health authority, said it was finally implementing the first community health post under the rural primary health service delivery project at Bubuleta. Another is ready for construction at Gurney.
“The two districts, Alotau and Kiriwina-Goodenough, will be supported under the project for various health priorities under the project agreement,” he said.
Mr Naidi said when the province’s
authority service plan and the Alotau provincial hospital master plan is approved next month, Milne Bay Provincial Government would set the blueprint for the model of health care in Milne Bay Province.
“The effective medical emergency referral system and the medivac aviation by partners will set one of the best emergency referral systems in the country with all the challenges as a vast maritime province in the country.”
“One of our objectives is to reduce the maternal and child health and other health indicators rate at a reasonable level by 2017.
Alotau is chosen as the site for the APEC meeting in 2017 and we look forward to improving our current hospital infrastructure to meet the APEC requirements under the direction of the Health Department.
“We aim to do this by transforming our accidents and emergency facilities and its support functions like radiology, Intensive Care Unit, and other areas to booster the clinical care at the hospital.
“The current development with the new medical ward, laboratory, maternity and the staff housing has set the pace for the rest of the development to take place,” the CEO said.
still expressed concern that the staff salaries and other entitlements may not be the same when PIH manages the hospital.
The protesters claim that among them are former staff of PIH who have reported that PIH working conditions are not as good as public servants and fear these practices might be brought to Gerehu hospital.
PIH had made it clear in a two weeks ago that the terms and conditions have yet to be worked out before it takes over.
He said of the 144,000 contacted, 32,200 people have been engaged in active conversation to date.
“This is a positive and firm step in the fight against this disease. We must now take the fight to the next level,” Governor said.
NCD is home to five per cent of PNG’s population but it contributes to 25 per cent of all TB cases and is the most important and visible “TB hotspot” with TB case notification rates that are nearly four times higher than the national average (1200/100,000 population).
“NCD is a key transmission hot spot that could act as an epidemic amplifier and
should therefore be an area for focused and enhanced TB control efforts,” he said.
The TB Support Centre is Mr Parkop’s initiative to educate the public on ways to recognise signs and symptoms of the disease, associated risk factors and exposure, infection control and prevention measures.
People who suspect they may have TB will be directed to the nearest medical centre where testing and diagnosis can be conducted.
Follow-up calls from the centre will provide support and remind sufferers to continue with their medication.
Digicel’s government relations director Garry Seddon said Digicel is a member of the ministerial task force on TB and said it was a large contact centre with 63 agents making calls with multiple parties engaged with the Health Department, NCDC and NCD health services.
This is a positive and firm step in the fight against this disease.
POWES PARKOP NCD GovernorA GROUP of Gerehu Hospital staff and patients showing their disapproval of PIH taking over
BY MEROLYN TEN
A TOTAL of seven trucks were purchased for all Christian churches situated in the area of Moresby Northeast, under the 2015 DSIP funds for the district.
The trucks were purchased through the initiative of the vice minister for Sports and MP for Moresby Northeast, Labi Amaiu.
Mr Amaiu bought the vehicles purposely for all Christian worshipers in his electorate to use during crusades or other church commitments since transportation was a huge problem faced.
He told the people that the trucks cost more than K800,000 and wants the vehicles to be driven with care. He also encouraged churches to use the trucks to carry out awareness to the unfortunate ones to give hope to them.
At the same time, he revealed his 2015 plans of building a stadium for the youths in his electorate because there were no proper sporting fields and other facilities available for the youths to use for sports and leisure.
He also said under the DSIP fund, he will also build a proper Moresby Northeast MP’s office and complete all the incomplete projects in his electorate.
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.
Leader, Patrick Pruaitch welcomed Chuave MP Wera Mori to his team last Friday at Onama in Chuave, Chimbu Province.
According to Mr Mori, his decision to join the NA Party was made over two years, based on the intention of delivering services to his people who have missed opportunity for more than 20 years.
He said his aim was to build foundation for the development of Chuave and Chimbu Province as a whole, and also would want to put Chuave electorate on firm development foundation for progress in 2022.
As the Vice Minister for Mines, Mr Mori will be working closely with other leaders to realise a limestone project since the area is surrounded with limestone mountain range.
Mr Mori’s vision was to share views with leaders on development issues as Papua New Guinea is witnessing new brand of leadership.
Mr Pruaitch praised Mr Mori for his inclusive leadership in the district and provincial levels by speeding up the implementation of projects planned for his district.
CONVICTED Gulf Governor Havila Kavo has warned his critics to respect the courts and the rule of law or face the consequences. At a media conference yesterday, Kavo said Gulf Province was about to become the second LNG producer in the country and critics spreading misleading information would cause political instability and frighten off investors in province.
He said his court appeal against the misappropriation conviction was for the court to decide, it had nothing to do with the Gulf governor’s seat.
“Right now I still remain governor. There is no vacancies with the position of the governor.”
“Where in law does it say that ethical and moral issues dictate that I have to step aside?
“Based on the legal advice
I obtained I have the right to continue to run the province as governor and nobody can change that.
“I only call on my critics who want to take this seat, there is no vacancy and I remain the governor,” Kavo said.
He said the Government position was when a Supreme Court had allowed bail last month it had suspended the conviction until the appeal
is determined by the court in April. He said until then, he is rightfully the Governor of Gulf until the Supreme Court ruling.
Kavo said the Gulf people were innocent and needed the services. He urged the two Gulf open MPs and LLG presidents to put aside their grievances, inviting them to a public servants dedication service on next Friday at Kerema.
KIKORI MP Mark Maipakai and his colleague Kerema MP Richard Mendani have called on the Public Prosecutor Kaluwin Pondros to revoke the bail conditions for the convicted Gulf Governor Havila Kavo.
Both Members said there was a breach and abuse of bail conditions by Kavo when he resumed office as the Gulf Governor after he was released on bail last month.
In a joint statement, Mr Maipakai and Mr Mendani said that when Kavo resumed duty as Gulf Governor he had interfered with the State witnesses and records at the Gulf provincial headquarters in Kerema.
“We are gravely concerned that the actions and conduct by Kavo since he resumed duties as Governor of Gulf Province after his release on bail is in clear breach of his bail conditions.
“We are therefore urging the Public Prosecutor to revoke Kavo’s bail conditions and lock him back in jail to await his appeal behind bars,” their statement read.
BY HAIVETA KIVIA
THE Morobe health division will ensure the Busamang sub-health centre is back in operation.
Provincial health adviser Micah Yawing told the Post-Courier his office will ensure Huon district administration and Salamaua local level government works with them to ensure the facility is operational this year.
Mr Yawing admitted that it was not good on the part of the administration to allow a facility that should be servicing the people stand idle.
The Busamang health centre was built through the initiative of the village people in 2012 and completed in early 2013.
But for two years it has not been in operation due to lack of staff, medical equipment and other necessities.
The facility consists of a building that will contain a maternity wing, out-patients wing and office and two staff
houses. All it needed was for the Salamaua LLG and Huon district administration to factor it into the 2012 Morobe provincial administration positional re-structure.
But that was not considered by the authorities and last year, another opportunity arose when other new positions were advertised and again Salamaua and Huon failed to factor the staff requirement of Busamang.
Mr Yawing said he will get in touch with Salamaua LLG manager, the Huon district administrator and his health manager to fast track the placement of staff at the facility.
“We should get at least a nursing officer and three community health workers to run the facility on the interim,” he said.
“Medicine shouldn’t be a problem once we have the staff and necessary equipment.” Medicines will be brought to the facility.
THE Australian Federal Police’s (ADP) policing partnership program with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) is not just about policing, it is everything imaginable in police work.
According to the AFP’s policing partnership newsletter called Wok Wantaim, the partnership is doing everything from training to building and renovations of police infrastructures.
One of the most important training it is doing is the senior leadership development program with the Australian Institute of Police Management.
The program was started in 2013 and has since graduated the first batch of RPNGC senior officers, last year.
According to Wok Wantaim, the second batch of RPNGC officers are currently undergoing the leadership training and will graduate in March this year.
AFP is also contributing to capacity building within the RPNGC with its training development branch to improve the curriculum taught at Bomana Police College.
It is also helping with advance skills training.
W HEN the idea of betelnut ban was fl oated around last year, I wrote the following, warning Governor Powes Parkop not to ban betelnut as there would be disastrous consequences because it is the only means the poor helps the poor to earn an income and survive the widespread poverty in the country. The fact is there are no social problems associated with the chewing of betelnut unlike alcohol and drugs. The only problem is littering and there are many better ways to control littering and make Port Moresby a clean city.
The following paragraph is what
I wrote: “Growing betelnut is not a problem. Harvesting betelnut is not a problem. Transporting betelnut is not a problem. Selling betelnut is not a problem. Even chewing betelnut is not a problem. The only problem associated with betelnut is littering. If you can’t fi nd a better way to control littering, banning betelnut would create more problems, even problems that never existed before”. My predict ions have now come true. Many innocent lives have been lost. I know Nicholas Rarua. He is a good brother to me. He didn’t deserve to die, leaving behind a widow and an unborn child with shattered dreams. Governor Powes Parkop should be investigated with his betelnut ban policy and held accountable for the death of innocent people as a direct result of his betelnut ban policy. The honourable thing he can do now is to resign in shame and disgrace.
Lucas Kiap PNGACMC
THE NSL season may have kicked off, but not in Port Moresby. Matches suspended due to no proper venue. Can the Sports Minister help soccer take on a professional development like what rugby leagues is getting. That is PNGFA’s ball, but sadly they have lost direction.
Long suffering fan
Your opinions
I AM looking for a couple namely Luke and Gloria Yapao. They are from Wabag but are currently living in Kimbe. If anyone knows this couple please tell them to call me on my mobile phone number: 73262482.
Benny Weso Ipopi
I UTTER my disgust at the recent killings of two innocent lives and the injuring of others at Hanuabada Village in Port Moresby last Friday. The killings by police are starting to become more prevalent and common than it has in the last decade. Policemen 20 to 10 years ago never killed or took lives so willingly as they do today.
I believe the increase in recruitment of policemen and women and the shortening of their basic training from six months to four months is just not acceptable. We are pushing out these young men and women without proper background checks of educational qualifications and proper standards and then arming them with high powered firearms and we tell
them to enforce the law. This is absurd and ridiculous. I am sure there are rules of engagement, which dictates when policemen and women are allowed or justified by law to retaliate with lethal force using a firearm.
It should be the norm that all new graduates should first do foot patrols, this include reserves and auxillary before being accepted to patrol in vehicles. They need to “earn their stripes” as the saying goes.
Another thing is the banning of the buai, the very people that are supposed to be enforcing the ban are some of the worst chewers and dealers. But, we must still keep the ban. We have to respect the fact that the buai ban is in place. If it weren’t for the sellers of
buai, the importers of buai, the uneducated “NCD Buai Police and City Rangers” enforcers of buai, two men would still be alive. Get these sellers, most of them are from a certain ethnic background out of the city and off the streets, if they were law abiding we wouldn’t have problems. To the chewers go to the highway, Porebada, Magi Highway, Laloki road to purchase your buai. To our Motu Koitabu and HB community please close that buai market permanently. God bless our country and God bless those families that have all lost loved ones recently. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Will
The views expressed on these pages are the opinions of our readers. They do not necessarily represent the views of
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THE frustration expressed by the staff of Goroka General Hospital in Eastern Highlands is a serious matter and demands immediate investigation to identify and rectify its cause.
It is a matter of concern because this situation poses a substantial threat to the lives of patients. It must be properly addressed without any further delay as the hospital provides services not only to Eastern Highlanders but also to other provinces in the Highlands and Mamose regions.
The views of Eastern Highlands governor and hospital chief executive officer expressed in the media regarding this issue seem vague and inconsiderate.
To have majority of staff of an important institution express aggravation and threaten strike as such explicitly implies that there are important issues and concerns that must have been overlooked. It is also a disgrace to top-level
management staff and provincial health authority for the failure to contain and resolve this issue at the provincial level.
Their failure to address this issue has now tarnished the reputation of the hospital.
Those particularly in the leadership and management role should not blame the staff or point fingers to each other.
Each and everyone in the system is part and parcel of the cause of this problem.
Meanwhile, the claim made by the governor to refer this matter to the administration of former governor Malcolm Smith Kela is rhetoric.
There has never been a major problem as such with the former administration.
Malcolm Smith Kela left with a clean record.
Apparently, the current administration is spending large sums of money on low impact areas that do not really benefit the vast majority of population. There is a need to prioritise activities as well as fallback plans to pre-
vent such incidents.
Importantly, patients have the right to proper health care and medical treatment.
Thus, questions are now raised among the people as to who will be responsible if patients meet their fate while awaiting medical attention at this point in time.
On that note, Health Minister Michael Malabag is highly commended for considering the seriousness of this issue and getting a commission of inquiry to conduct an investigation.
The provincial health administration and all other respective parties must provide whatever assistance needed to resolve this issue.
INDEED land rights by custom. So how do we determine the reservation by which that land seemingly claimed by a native is customary land? First and foremost customary land in Papua New Guinea will remain the life blood of the natives of this land. So in every sense we can say alienated land laws can not be said and done for customary land. What then? There still remains a law and that needs to be made real so that ‘customary’ by definition is that native standing on that ground beneath/around the ocean, river, sky, rock, tree, grass, fire, water, pig, fish, kaukau, mango, flowers, orchids, people, etc, and so forth. You need customary land law.
I Hivi
brought about a lot of physical and management changes to this institution and we are grateful to you. But there is one rotten apple that you must get rid of. That particular person is working as a physiotherapy assistant in a ward. Every time a person with broken bones is admitted to that ward, he tells them that he is Dr W..., a specialist for broken bones and paralletics. He sells medical kits like wheelchairs, water beds and so forth, that are supposed to be freely issued to inpatients who were charged fees between K200-K1000. Can the CEO do something about it because he is making extra money from poor patients who are in pain. Thank you very much.
Concerned
Luwi James Mahi Lower Asaro, EHP
ENGA and Hela provinces are two of the resource-rich provinces in PNG which are accessible by road.
The mining supplies for the worldclass Porgera gold mine, operated by Barrick Gold, are transported to the mine site using the Highlands Highway, so are the LNG supplies for the Hides, Moran, Kutubu and Gobe sites.
We frequently hear that when there is road block, either by natural disasters or man-made, happening on the Southern Highlands section of the highway, the traffic usually stops temporarily.
It affects the production level of the PNG LNG project due to the shortage of operational supplies.
The same thing happens to the Porgera gold mine when the Enga section of the highway is affected.
When such road blocks occur on one of the important roads, it is better to use the Porgera-Tari Road to transport supplies for the economic generators of this country without suffering any loss in production. The distance between Porgera and Tari station is less than 30km.
The geographical features are not too rough to construct a road to establish a vital link between the two provinces.
The Mt Kare gold/silver project, which is located right on the provincial boundaries of the two provinces, will soon be a gold producing
mine in the near future. The said road will be used to transport mining supplies for this site when the road is constructed and opened by the Government.
I therefore call on the provincial governments of both mentioned provinces, the national Government, Barrick Gold, Indochine Mining Ltd, ExxonMobil and Oil Search Ltd to fund the construction of this vital economic corridor to establish the missing link for the continual production of minerals, oil and gas.
OUR Grade Eight children of Bogia district have only one high school to be selected to, which is Holy Spirit Secondary. I will not include Malala Secondary since that school is only interested in Sumkar and Madang districts. Nearly all of our Grade Eight kids are coming back to us in the village and it is sad and unjust. If you look at Sumkar Grade Eight students, they have Malala and Karkar secondary schools and three annex schools which are Megiar, Dangsai and Ilu. Their population is distributed among five schools. Ken Fairweather and the Sumkar PEB representatives have done a great job for the children of Sumkar. I would like to kindly ask John Hickey to pour funds on Banara primary, Ariangon primary and Bieng primary schools to have them annexed and lifted to a high school status.
Gabriel MalaguiTHIS is to the Port Moresby General Hospital CEO: Since you took over as chief executive of POMGH, you
THE Government, in particular the Police Department, seem powerless in dealing with rogue police. They have struck twice in a space of two weeks in Motu/Koitabuan villages. Firstly, killing a man at Tatana and last Friday the killing of two innocent young men at Hanuabada. Are the Motuans going to continue getting killed and maimed, for that matter other ordinary law abiding people of this country? I suggest that only the special police tactical unit be armed, while all the other rank and file be disarmed and should carry a baton and just walk the streets if the government cannot control these rogue police. How does it hope to keep good security during the Pacific Games but more importantly, the APEC summit in 2018? Outside forces like Alqaeda and ISIS know we have a problem with wayward police, they could easily be recruited. The colour of money will sway any rouge cop. And having all the big leaders of the world like US President Barack Obama coming here could be a big threat. Get the house in order!
D. Mole
I want the leaders to be tough on the police. They need to be trained properly. Six months of training is just like a crawling baby, and not all police need to be armed.
Widow Mary Daure mourning the death of her beloved husband, who was allegedly shot dead by police at the weekend.
THIS year will continue to be a tight fiscal year for the Correctional Service (CS), says Correctional Service Minister Jim Simatab.
Mr Simatab said was speaking during the passing out of the 2014 CS recruits last Friday in relation to the lack of adequate and timely funding to the department.
He said the department must be proactive in repaying its debt of more than K20 million.
“We need to immediately prioritise the outstanding liabilities of the department.
“All contractors servicing our institutions for food and related supplies must be fully paid and new contracts issued to suppliers based on current approved pricing.
“But I am pleased that the Commissioner has commenced discussions with head of public utilities to reschedule the debt payments of water and electricity so that prison operations are uninterrupted,” Minister Simatab said.
OPPOSITION Leader Don Polye said yesterday that the Government must order a comprehensive audit on the financial operations of State-owned entities (SOEs) which have been operating insolvent.
He made the remarks in the light of another SOE (Eda Ranu) claiming it had substantial money in debts.
Mr Polye said the Government required urgent detailed understand-
ing of the current financial position of Eda Ranu with a view to direct for a financial recovery plan to facilitate the reconstruction of the company’s operations.
Mr Polye said the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contracts currently between PNG Water Limited and the JC-KRTA Consulting Group Ltd should be reviewed to determine if these contracts, wherein Eda Ranu’s performance, could be improved.
The BOT contract, worth K159 million, commenced in 1997 and expires in 2019.
He said in the BOT arrangement, PNG Power Ltd is the concessionaire company which runs the Water Treatment Plant and treats the raw water. Eda Ranu in turn pays for the treated water and distributes to consumers in the NCD. JC-KRTA Consultants of Malaysia is contracted by Eda Ranu to manage the
Billings and Collection system.
“The BOT contract appears to have been done for the benefit of the external contractors and Eda Ranu has been used as a milking source,” Mr Polye said.
Mr Polye said 60 per cent of Eda Ranu’s consumable water is lost through connections made to settlements and villages over the years, without any metering and collection system in place
and they are required to be put onto the billing system.
Mr Polye said while Eda Ranu should operate as a commercially viable orgnisation to sustain itself, the company must exist to improve the quality of life by providing a safe, reliable and adequate supply of drinking water to all consumers in NCD and ensuring safe disposal of waste water in an environmentally friendly manner.
He said the inadequate and late release of government funds have also hampered the implementation of important National Executive Council -endorsed policies such as the review of the national prison system and the detainee rehabilitation policy as well as the refurbishment of infrastructures to improve the institutional capacity of PNG CS.
Mr Simatab urged CS Commissioner Michael Waipo to prioritise these initiatives this year.
He said despite the setbacks the department should look forward to positive prospects such as the upcoming policy submission to secure cabinet funding for institutional infrastructure and rural lock-up needs and the construction of nine provincial jails among others over three years under PPP deal worth about K700 million.
A YOUNG businessman and community leader in the Western Highlands has called on the government for a complete ban on alcohol in the Highlands region.
The young man believes it will minimise the escalating rate of the law and order problem in the region and allow for people to become more self-reliant.
Richard Paul Koim of the Kuli Nuporpi tribe living along the border of Western Highlands and Jiwaka Province called on the Provincial Liquor Licensing Commission of both provinces to impose a permanent ban on the trading and consumption of alcohol in the two provinces.
“During the festive season when there was a liquor ban in both provinces, the Jiwaka and Hagen section of the high-
RICHARD PAUL KIOM Concerned Citizen
lands highway was clear and peaceful and as far as I know no major incidents were recorded and mothers and children were observing the festive season peacefully in their churches,” he said.
“Now when the ban has been lifted the rate of lawlessness is escalating and husbands and male members of families are getting out of hand and wasting family money on alcohol and other unwanted behaviour and women and children are no
longer enjoying peaceful nights sleep.”
Mr Koim, who called in from Mt Hagen yesterday, said alcohol is the major contributor of social problems including the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS infection.
He said like other places in the country, beer shops and night clubs in the province are promoting prostitution. He added when people especially men are under the influence of alcohol they don’t care about contracting HIV/AIDS.
People can’t control their sexual desires when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he stressed.
“I call on the Jiwaka and Western Highlands Provincial Governments and relevant authorities to collectively agree to put a complete put a ban alcohol in the two provinces.”
When the ban was lifted the rate of lawlessness escalated..
TWO new high schools in Northern Province will start taking new Grade nine students in-takes this year.
The two new high schools are Sakarina in the Afore local level government and Inonda High School near Girua Airport in Popondetta.
Member for Ijivitari David Arore who initiated the projects through the Ijivitari District Authority said the projects were in partnership with the Seventh Day Adventists and Anglican Churches that will take charge of the two new high schools.
Mr Arore said the Sakarina High School is running in partnership with Anglican and Inonda is an SDA church high school.
He said the Ijivitari District Authority (formerly JDP&BPC) has provided K1 million to each of the schools for the construction of the new classrooms to accommodate new student in-takes for this year.
“The Grade nine in-take
selections has been completed and teachers and headmaster appointments are done before the school year begins.”
He said the two new high schools brings to a total of five high schools for the Ijivitari District.
Mr Arore said two more high schools will be built in the district next year which are the Ambasi and Tufi High School which will bring to a total of seven high schools in the district by 2017.
Meanwhile, the Ijivitari MP also announced that road sealing work for the Northern highway will begin by early next month.
He said the Ijivitari District Authority has allocated almost K10 million for the sealing of the first 10 kilometres of road into Oro Bay.
Mr Arore said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is expected to open the two new high schools and the launching of the road project in March this year.
INCREASING water capacity in proportion to the projected rise in population in the distant future as opposed to the current population would ease the water woes faced in Port Moresby today, says a plumber. According to Mack Henna, a tradesman with more than 20 years experience in plumbing, low water pressure and shortage are continuously faced in the city because the current water capacity was set to meet the demands of population in the past years . And as the present population has increased since then, the current water capacity could not cater for the growing demand for water, he said.
Mr Henna suggested to water suppliers such as Eda Ranu and Water PNG to increase the current capacity to meet the demands of population projected for 10 to 50 years into the future. He said water capacity can be increased with the establishment of another dam and water reservoirs or tanks to complement the Sirinumu Dam at Sogeri, Central Province.
By ALFRED KANINIBA
THE Juha steering committee, a body sanctioned by the Fly River Provincial Government, is moving on with spearhead precision to carry out its community programs in 2015.
This follows the successful community awareness program conducted in villages in the Juha PDL 9 in the Nomad local level government area in Western Province.
Steering committee secretary Frank Neobia said an awareness program was carried out from December 27 to January 2 where six issues were clarified to the PDL 9 landowners. They include:
That a submission made to the Provincial Executive Council for the PEC to recognise the Juha steering committee was granted;
That the steering committee had asked the PEC to approve payments of benefits to the 36 landowner
groups is now pending;
Endorsement and approval for the awareness to be carried out had been completed;
The PEC had endorsed the Steering Committee’s trip to Port Moresby in October 2014, to meet with the Department of Petroleum and Energy officials.
The proposed Juha Mini Forum, and
The submission of the Juha Steering Committee’s 2014 Situation Report.
Mr Neobia said since the steering committee had been recognised and endorsed by the PEC in August 2014, the committee had covered a lot of ground to be in a strong position to start 2015.
“I am very happy and excited that the committee has moved quickly in a short space of time to where we are now,” he said.
“During the awareness we explained to our people what we had achieved so far.”
THE Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, in partnership with its stakeholders is focused with its service delivery for this year, says chief executive officer f Billy Naidi.
Towards the end of last year, the authority had its board sworn in since its appointments in September last year, Mr Naidi said.
The majority of the members have had their term renewed except the Health Department, district affairs, churches, the women representatives and general community representative.
They have been replaced by Wilson Lote, Cabrina Lemeki, Piwen Sibunkau, and Elizah Imatana respectively. Chairman Peter Neville replaces Confucius Ikoirere and Jamil Yaganege has been reappointed as a local business representative and deputy Chairman.
Mr Naidi said the board and management will be conducting its 2015 plans, programs and projects on tomorrow (Wednesday) to officially kick start the year.
“MBPHA focus for this year is service delivery in partnership with our stakeholders to achieve our National and Provincial
SERVICE DELIVERY: MILNE
Bay Provincial Health Authority in partnership with its stakeholders is focused with its service delivery for this year, says Chief Executive Officer for the authority.
BOARDS SWORN IN: Towards the end of last year, the authority had its board sworn in since its appointments in September last year.
PARTNERSHIP: The Government partnership is our main strength in health service delivery which the board has signed a charter with all its partners to deliver all health service deliverables in Milne Bay province.
HEALTH PLAN: CEO said the national health plan provides the reference.
Government goals and objectives,”
Mr Naidi said. The CEO said the national health plan 2010-2020 provides the reference to the provincial authority’s service plan and annual programs for implementations.
“The Government partnership is our main strength in health service delivery which the board has signed a charter with all its partners to deliver all health service deliverables in Milne Bay province,” he said.
If you have a story to tell, call us on 542 2602, or email posthagen@spp.com.pg
A CHINESE investment company, Tom Investment, has helped the Naleya Women and Children Foundation (NWCF) of Enga with K50,000 in Kaindan Village in Kompiam-Ambum.
This funding will be used to assist the electorate’s tertiary students in various tertiary institutions around the country.
Tom Investment representative Phillip Maip said the company was happy to assist NWCF with the money as parents were finding it difficult to pay school fees for their children attending schools around the country this year. He said that though the government has subsidised school fees, many parents were still facing severe financial constraints when sending their children to tertiary institutions like colleges and universalities.
“Though the government helps and assists students with subsidies around the country, many sponsors and parents have to dig further in with another K4000 to K6000 to get their children into tertiary institutions,” said Mr Maip.
He said it’s a very big burden for self-sponsoring students and also even those government sponsoring students.
Chairperson of NWCF Chan Evara
Kaeyao thanked Tom Investments
ASSISTANCE: Parents of students from the Kompiam-Ambum electorate in Enga province who will be attending various tertiary institutions around the country have received school fee assistance from a Chinese Company.
and said the funds will go towards assisting more than 150 tertiary students from Kompiam-Ambum electorate in Enga Province.
Kaeyao said that the foundation had assisted 32 students last year but the figure has now increased to over 150 students this year. He told hundreds of parents and locals that the foundation will add another K150,000 towards assisting the students.
“Though this foundation is new, we have so far attracted donors that are willing to assist parents and our children,” Kaeyao said.
Kaeyao also assisted parents and coffee growers with over 300 spades and bush knives for coffee rehabilitation that NWCF promised last year.
He said that NWCF will look at assisting and in helping to supporting parents and the local people in the electorate in the future.
KUTUBU LLG president John Pipi Kila is well and truly on a roll.
Mr Kila has handed over yet again the keys of another new police vehicle for Moro police station to the provincal police comander of Southern Highlands Province.
The vechile will be based at Moro police station and assist in policing the area which encompasses the 12,000 Foe and Fasu people of Kutubu from Pimaga station right to to Kantabo.
The handover ceremony at Pimaga government station was witnessed by all 18 ward councillors of Kutubu LLG and is the fourth vehicle Mr Kila has delivered to his people since the beginning of this year.
He also used the moment to extend his sincere appreacition to the member for Kutubu Jeffery Komal Pesab who had assited with the highway 19 police vehicle which he delivered early and said such parternship and coloboration between the local MP and LLG presidents go along way in ensuring the much needed service to the people of Kutubu.
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TEACHERS in the country have been hit hard following the non-payment of their entitlements which has led to more problems.
Many teachers failed to resume their duties today after not receiving their spread sheets to help them obtain loans from various financial institutions.
Last week hundreds of disgruntled teachers gathered at the Morobe provincial education office demanding the release of their pay slips.
An officer working for the salaries section in the province, Berei Karo, confirmed the province has been plagued by problems since the Christmas and New Year period. And now as the schooling year is about to begin there is another problem to deal with.
He said their problems began when their internet connection was affected due to non-payment of outstanding bills.
Mr Karo confirmed however that the payments have been made for the reconnection of internet services so
that they could get connected with the payroll system in Waigani.
He told reporters that the provincial education salary section has been working extra hard to fix the problem.
He said as a temporary solution, all the relevant information has been passed on to their counterparts in Port Moresby so that pay slips may be printed.
“It is a new system that the Department of Education has introduced and it will not be least long for the spread sheet to be used and this system has come in when it was introduced to assist the salary officers in more difficult times,” he said.
Many teachers wanted their pay slips to be printed quickly to obtain loans from financial institutions for their children’s school fees and to help them travel back to their respective places.
The internet system was disconnected last year November (2014) but the staff told the teachers to be patience so that they can sit down and process the pay slip.
BUSINESSES in Madang are opti-
mistic after the Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) announced at a meeting with its members that there will be several new developments this year.
It is understood that during the meeting on Tuesday, it was mentioned that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) would send some of its officers to work with police in Madang but the plan is still in its early stages and more information will be divulged later.
“The chamber fully supports the deployment (of Australian Feeral Police) and understands that this will be an advisory role,” the MCCI said.
“The business community stands ready to support the PPC (Provincial Police Commander) if he wants AFP officers here.
“As this is yet at an early stage we don’t know their exact location but imagine it would be similar to our sister city of Lae – advisory and support for patrols.”
In addition to the future support that AFP will give, there is a plan to build a new police barracks to provide housing for the local police offic-
ers. “The chamber is also very happy to hear the Madang Development Corporation has donated land for new police barracks and housing and tenders have been given out for this work.”
The province will also have a new football team, Madang FC, which will take part in the semi-professional soccer competition, the National Soccer League.
Meanwhile, although there has been some positive development, Madang town is facing a number of serious problems such as flooding with poor state of roads.
The road at the Modilon hospital junction and Ela Motors has disintegrated and needs major repair whilst the town centre is constantly flooded around the National Development Bank and Brian Bell area which can affect public hygiene and businesses.
“The Chamber strongly feels these should be attended to immediately. Despite these problems, it looks as Madang is set for a good year,” the chamber said.
“Madang remains a tourism and education hub and we look forward to welcoming back thousands of students and the new Madang FC team playing the NSL.”
THE Super Value Store group of companies and its partners rolled out the 37th and 38th SVS Supa V Stoas over the weekend.
This is the sixth and seventh SVS Supa V Stoas in East New Britain alone.
The people of Rabuana ward in the Kombiu local level government area witnessed the opening of the sixth store last Friday for members of the Pakania Cooperative followed by the launching of the seventh store in the province on Saturday at Nonga owned by Kanai Pineri and his family.
These two stores are the first for Rabaul district following arrangements between Rabaul MP Allan Marat, Rabaul District administration, and project manager for Super V Store project in PNG Patricia Kassman.
The other stores are located in the other districts of the province.
The opening of the store at Nonga coincided with
THERE is a need for authorities in East New Britain to start addressing and looking at conserving some of the province’s natural rainforests.
The Japanese-run Organisation of Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) Training Centre is one such international NGO that encourages forest conservation and its Director Francis Leba is concerned that the province was now losing its natural rainforests at a very fast rate.
He said they are looking at the current trend in natural rainforests, especially in the Pomio and Baining areas where forets were being cut down due to logging activities and oil palm development.
Mr Leba said he has travelled to projects sites in remote communities and witnessed forests being destroyed within seconds.
“It is a threat and a concern which should be taken up by all stakeholders. People should start to think positively to do some reforestation,” he said.
He said forests were vanishing at an alarming rate and the provincial government and non government organisations have a role to play to save some of these forests as well as natural wild life.
CONCERN: There is a need for authorities in ENB to start addressing and looking at conserving the province’s natural rainforests.
OISCA: An international NGO that encourages forest conservation.
PLAN: OISCA is looking at the current trend and will make sure that reforestation takes place.
LOCATION: Remaining rainforests are in the Baining and Pomio areas.
He said there is a need to start conserving the natural environment given the current rate of oil palm development as well as logging activities, adding that there were now too many logging companies in the province.
Mr Leba said the province’s remaining natural rainforests are now located in the Baining and Pomio areas and he feared these rainforests will vanish if they do not start addressing this issue.
He said OISCA has been rolling out its forestry programs targeting school students as well as communities and conducting awareness programs. However, he said a collective approach by all stakeholders was needed to preserve forests.
the launching of the Nonga Market building and ablution block.
Ms Kassman said it was a milestone achievement for the people of Rabaul in that under K1 million, they were able to establish a small economic centre at Nonga under the PPP Concept.
The new facilities are located directly opposite the Nonga General Hospital.
The total cost for the three facilities at Nonga was around K380,000.
She said apart from general merchandise goods that will be sold at the store, there will also be BSP Banking services and other services to be provided by suppliers including Digicel.
She encouraged women who sell their goods everyday at the Nonga Market to make use of these services especially the banking services.
Ms Kassman praised Mr Marat and the district administration.
If you have a story to tell, call us on 982 9186, or email postrabaul.spp@global.net.pg / or call 973 9188, email postbuka.spp@global.net.pg
A GLOBAL union representing mineworkers is campaigning to alert people in Bougainville about what it calls bad behaviour by the international mining company Rio Tinto.
Rio Tinto has not ruled out returning to mine on Bougainville through its controlling stake in Bougainville Copper.
Adam Lee of IndustryALL Global Union, which represents 50 million workers around the world, says Rio Tinto has an atrocious record on safety and the environment which the union highlighted in a report last year.
MONOVI Amani was sworn in yesterday as the Chief Secretary for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Mr Amani, 52, from Mortlock Island, was the former provincial administrator for New Ireland Province, a position he held for the last two years. Prior to that, he was the chief executive officer for planning and finance for the provincial administration.
The new chief secretary was previously a business and taxation consultant, a lecturer in finance and
CHIEF SECRETARY: Monovi Aamani is the new secretary for the Autonomous Bougainville Government just appointed.
AGENT: Mr Amani was interviewed with two others and appointed by the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee.
CREDENTIALS: A degree holder in commerce, accounting and business administration, Mr Amani served in senior positions in high profile government organisations before he was appointed as the Boungainville Chief Secretary.
accounting, a senior officer in the National Housing Corporation and a tax assessor with the Internal Revenue Commission.
Mr Amani has degrees in commerce, accounting and business administration. He also has certificates and diplomas in financial
management and tertiary teaching.
Since 1992, Mr Amani has been a member of the Australian Society for Chartered Practicing Accountants. The recruitment of Mr Amani was based on his successful application to the post that was advertised last year. He was among three highly qualified candidates who were interviewed by Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee (BSAC) and successfully won the position.
The Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee consists of President Momis, the speaker of the House of Representatives Andrew Miriki, Bishop Tim Arthur representing the churches, Hona Hollan appointed by the Bougainville Women’s Federation and Hubert Kikira appointed by the PNG Law Society. Under Bougainville law the Committee received a report from the independent panel of Secretary John Kali, Sir Paul Songo and Mr Simon Pentanu ranking the applications.
“As outsiders we’re not trying to say people should make a decision one way or the other but clearly the company isn’t being really truthful about how they operate around the world and it’s important to shine some light on how this company truly behaves because we believe once they’re exposed that’ll put some pressure on them to truly clean up their act,” Mr Lee said.
He said its critical local people make an informed decision about mining again on Bougainville.
He says the latest example of its poor dealings with indigenous communities is the resolution copper project, in an area of the United States considered sacred to native Americans.
“Rio Tinto has pursued changes in the legislative process to enable it to get the permits required to mine in the area without having to go through some of the environmental reviews and without allowing the community including indigenous communities to really have a strong voice in the process.”
THE ongoing Konnou peace process in Buin, South Bougainville is progressing well through sporting activities.
Youths from all over Konnou and Wisai flocked to Wisai Primary School grounds to take part in the Konnou peace building process through the week long games in soccer and volleyball.
Konnou came with 23 teams while Wisai registered 17 teams.
The youths of Konnou shook hands. Youth president of Wisai Council of Elders Peter Kanare hailed the games as a success towards progressing peace process. The games were played at Oria
where youths from Konnou and Wisai numbering more than 2000 came to participate.
He said Konnou has gone through a lot of infighting such as the infamous ‘Konnou Crisis’ since 2010 where killings took place and properties destroyed.
“Now youths are coming together for the first time ever to play sports together and maintain the peace process in
the Konnou constituency,” Mr Kanare said, adding that a significant re-union and symbol of peace took place during the games.
Youths of Konnou said they felt relieved and free when playing in the Wisai area and they want more of such sporting tournaments.
Mr Kanare said Wisai area is now seen as a ‘free zone’ after the games, which removed the clouds of threats and risks surrounding the area.
He said 2015 is a decisive year for Konnou as the world will be watching it to dispose of its weapons and continue to maintain peace.
Teams also came from Mogoroi village – stronghold for Me’ekamui front man Damien Koike.
HE continuous blockage of the main road leading into the PNG LNG Project plant site has no major impact on its operation.
Little has been impacted by roadblocks by aggrieved villagers from Hanuabada and surrounding villagers.
Rebecca Arnold, Communications Advisor for ExxonMobil PNG Limited (EMPNGL) when contacted as to check whether the roadblocks leading to the LNG plant site in anyway affected replied “Never
ROADBLOCKS: Aggrieved villages from Hanuabada and other villages set up roadblocks over police killings.
BACKROAD: LNG workers are being transported using the back road to Baruni.
LNG PLANT SITE: No interruption at all or major impact to the operations.
an interruption. There have been impacts on PNG LNG workforce movements to and from the LNG Plant. However, LNG production operations are ongoing as normal,” Mr Arnold told the Post-Courier yesterday.
Further queries as to know how much and in what manners the workforce movements to and from the LNG Plant site has been affected has left unanswered.
However, the Post-Courier understands that the work-
force from the LNG Plant site has been safely transported in and out of town either using the BaruniGerehu back road though there is a similar roadblock reportedly set up at the Roundabout near Atlas Steel base where it leads to the plant site.
The newspaper also understands that the LNG Plant site is maintained by few technical and operational staff. From where the plant site is located, the security risk of any possible interruption on plant site would not be of any detriment
since it is highly secured through various high security measures. The PostCourier confirmed yesterday that the road leading to the LNG Plant site is still blocked at Baruni corner.
The villagers have blocked off the roundabout towards Papa-Lealea road.
A police Mobile Unit was at the site at Red Sea compound but the road was still blocked. Villagers at Baruni and Tatana were supporting their Hanubada relatives following a separate killing by police in their area a week ago.
LONDON: The owner of British Airways appears to be on the brink of a major breakthrough in its STG1 billion ($A1.86 billion) pursuit of Dublin-based carrier Aer Lingus. A third and improved proposal from International Airlines Group (IAG) has reportedly won the backing of the Irish carrier's board.
IAG still requires the support of the Irish government, which holds a 25 per cent stake in Aer Lingus and will want reassurances from the BA and Iberia owner
over its plans for the key Dublin to Heathrow route.
Low-cost airline Ryanair, which owns just under 30 per cent of Aer Lingus following a series of failed takeover attempts, may be tempted to sell at the new offer price of 2.50 euros a share, equivalent to 1.33 billion euros.
It is expected that IAG and Aer Lingus will make statements to the London Stock Exchange on Monday.
The Aer Lingus board rejected
previous bids from IAG worth 2.30 and 2.40 euros a share.
Aer Lingus is well known to IAG boss Willie Walsh as he ran the airline between 2001 and 2005 before taking the helm at British Airways.
IAG's interest in Aer Lingus stems from its desire for additional Heathrow runway slots as well as the opportunity to deliver more industry cost efficiencies.
Aer Lingus is the fourth busiest operator at London's Heathrow
behind British Airways, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic.
Its fortunes have improved in recent months and under chief executive Christoph Mueller it reported the airline's strongest summer trading performance since the financial crisis, with operating profits up 19 per cent to 112.9 million euros in the quarter to September 30.
The airline carried nearly a quarter more long-haul passengers in the period than a year earlier while increasing its revenue per seat.
SYDNEY: Blackstone Real Estate Partners is selling its Gold Fields House at Circular Quay for around $415 million.
The company yesterday said it had entered into a binding agreement to sell 1 Alfred Street property to Dalian Wanda Group.
Blackstone took ownership of Gold Fields House when it acquired Valad property group in a private transaction in 2011. It was its first major real estate investment in Australia.
Planning approval allows for the 1960s office building, that enjoys a prime location overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, to be developed for residential use.
Wanda Group says it "intends to create a mixed-use development including a 5-star hotel, luxury residential and retail". The transaction is expected to close in March 2015.
WHILE the Government is developing the Sepik economic sone, it is also in the initial stages of developing similar agriculture-based special economic zones (SEZ) on the Baiyer River, Gulf and Western provinces under the leadership of the minister of Trade
Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru. The MP said the setting up of these economic zones would cost about K3 million.
“These provinces are vital because they have no special economic zones, once such zones are set up, it will invest in their businesses,” Mr Maru said.
In the meantime, the former
deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture Potaisa Hombunaka has joined the department of Trade Commerce and Industry as the new head of all agriculture-based Sepik economic zones.
Survey and land mobilization work are expected to commence in the Ramu Valley in the Usino Bundi
district shortly to mobilise land for the Ramu Valley special economic zone, which is likely to expand into the Transgogol area of Madang. The special economic zone in Madang is a joint partnership between the national Government, the Madang Provincial Government and the Usino Bundi district.
Mr Maru and his team will visit Gulf and Western provinces to hold discussions with the provincial governments and visit the proposed economic zones to see work out the strategic issues the Government will have to consider in deciding on developing any special economic zones in these provinces.
BANK of South Pacific (BSP) has advised customers that obtaining a sufficient volume of ATM quality K20 notes has become a problem for the bank and some ATMs are affected.
As a result of this, BSP has removed the K20 note option at a limited number of ATMs; however, BSP has many ATMs where all three denominations (K20, K50, and K100) are still available.
In a statement, BSP has clarified that it is not withholding any funds from ordinary Papua New Guineans and advised that customers can access their funds using their KunduCards at EFTPoS merchants.
Some of these EFTPoS merchants are big stores; others are small village trade stores.
At the EFTPoS merchants KunduCard customers can make purchases and also get cash.
There are 11,000 EFTPoS merchants nationwide. Customers can also access their funds at any of our 250 agents or 88 branches and subbranches across PNG.
BSP explained said mobile and internet banking are also available for customers to transfer funds or purchase goods and services, without the need to use cash.
RICE farming is a thriving business in the Finschaffen District of Morobe Province yet local farmers face far greater challenges, a rice farmer says.
Ken Zukey from WagelongButala village in Finschaffen said rice wasn’t a popular farming crop until early 2002 but there are a couple of challenges that have hindered the business in the area.
“The majority of the farmers lack proper knowledge on the proper methods of harvest-
ing and processing of the rice grains,” he said.
“In addition to that, the only rice mill here in WagelongButala that processes entire rice in Yabem-Mape LLG and other neighbouring costal villages in the Nawaeb District, became spoilt in 2002.”
Mr Zukey said even during the operation of the rice processing mill, there were instances where the mill’s fan belt was torn, so an entire three-piece machine needed to be bought.
“Every time one of the fan belts tears, we spend around
K900 to buy all three pieces, because every new piece works well with a new set.
“A new piece of fan belt doesn’t work well with the old sets so we have to buy all three at K300 each,” Mr Zukey said.
Mr Zukey explained that a fee of K1 is charged to every farmer that bring their rice for processing and funds taken from this is used to carry maintenance on the machine.
“Now that the machine is inoperable, the local farmers are experiencing hardships in bring their rice to Lae for processing,” Mr Zukey said.
He said there is a high demand of rice in the local area due to the fact that the villages are very remote and a kilogram of rice is quite expensive for the villages to purchase in Lae.
The villagers have taken the responsibility to raise funds from the sale of other food crops to purchase a new machine.
“This rice mill is the only machine that a huge number of villages depend on so we are currently making efforts to raise as much money as we can to purchase a new machine,” Mr Zueky said.
FORMER parliamentarian Kilroy Genia has been appointed to the board of a company prospecting for alternate energy sources in Central Province.
Mr Genia, a former minister in 2001, will sit in the board meetings of Australian company Foyson Resources Limited that holds the highly prospective Amazon Bay iron sands project, located on the coast south-east
of Port Moresby. Foyson chairman Paul Dickson said yesterday that the board of Foyson Resources Limited was pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Genia for the next three years.
“The Board welcomes Mr Genia to the company. Mr Genia’s broad corporate, government and business experience will be instrumental in developing our portfo-
lio of assets both here in Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Mr Dickson said.
Foyson holds the highly prospective Amazon Bay iron sands project, located on the coast 150km south east of Port Moresby.”
Foyson is a resource company based in Sydney and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Mr Genia has broad experience in both pri-
vate and government enterprises having spent nine years holding various ministerial positions within the PNG cabinet, including justice, defence, foreign affairs and trade.
Foyson is currently seeking approvals from the ASX to enable the acquisition of exclusive licences to commercialise three renewal energy technologies from an Australian Company,
Integrated Green Energy Limited. One of these technologies, the conversion of biomass to electricity, is particularly relevant for providing power in remote communities and as such Foyson has began discussions with government and private entities to enable the introduction of this technology to PNG, potentially to replace or supplement diesel-based power generation.
There are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice but only 100 varieties are grown worldwide and 10 percent marketed and sold
A LANDMARK air services agreement between the Australian and Chinese governments will open the way for new routes.
The cap on seats from China’s largest cities to the Australian gateway cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth will triple to almost 67,000 seats each week by 2016.
Routes to smaller cities, like Adelaide and Cairns, will have no limits.
China is Australia’s most valuable tourism market,
with almost 800,000 visitors spending up to $5 billion in the country last year.
It is also set to overtake New Zealand as the biggest inbound market by next year.
Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said the deal would lead to improved service capacity to major gateway cities.
“It will provide more flexibility and more opportunities for passengers,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
Four state-owned Chinese airlines already fly to Australia and now airports are hoping to attract second-tier airlines from big regional centres. Qantas is the only Australian carrier that flies to China and is waiting on regulatory approval for a joint venture with China Eastern.
In a statement, Qantas said the increased capacity supports the goals of its proposed joint venture “which includes the exploration of opening up new
routes between Australia and mainland China, such as Brisbane and Perth to Shanghai”.
Aviation analyst Peter Harbison said route economics were currently weak.
“That is, it is a very pricesensitive and seasonal market. And there is a lot of intermediate capacity, e.g. via Singapore, Bangkok, which also allows dispersion to a range of cities,” he said.
Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff welcomed
the agreement, after traffic from China increased by 20 per cent last year.
“We had an airline, China Eastern, wanting to add more flights, but we were unable to do so because the flight cap had been reached,” Mr Woodruff said.
“What today’s announcement does is remove that risk for the next two or three years.”
Sydney Airport has also seen increased numbers of visitors from China by 16 per cent. – ABC
A PRIVATE consortium is hoping to launch an Australian agricultural index this year to help secure investment from superannuation funds and other private and institutional investors.
All other major asset classes such as mining, industrial and manufacturing already have indices that mark the performance of their sectors.
Rural investment consultant Frank Delahunty said when it was launched, the agricultural index would represent between 8 and 10 institutional and high net-worth individuals and have a capital base of around $1.6 billion. Mr Delahunty said the only information readily available at this point was ABARES data, which he said came out nearly 18 months after the end of the financial year. –ABC
MINING company Arrium is cutting almost 600 jobs as it closes one of its iron ore operations in the far north of South Australia.
The Southern Iron project is centred in a region south of Coober Pedy.
Up to 200 full-time positions will go, along with 380 contractors.
The company said the cuts come after falls in the iron ore price of about 45 per cent.
Arrium’s chief executive of mining Greg Waters said the entire mining business would have been under threat had it not closed the
Southern Iron Ore project.
He said the drop in the iron ore price made the financial position of the company’s mining operations grim.
“One of the concerns we obviously had was that this could put the entire [mining] business in jeopardy,” Mr Waters said.
The reductions at both the Southern Iron Ore operation as well as supporting mechanisms back in Whyalla were necessary to protect the rest of the mining business, he said.
Federal local MP Rowan Ramsey said while it was
unwelcome news, the reality was Arrium had been dealing with a huge drop in the price of iron ore since they opened the mine.
“The mining will cease, I would have thought immediately,” Mr Ramsey said.
“We would all hope that the falling iron ore prices is temporary, but it’s not likely to be temporary for two weeks,” he said.
“It’s going to take some time for some of the economies to pick up and start using more steel, so it may be some time.”
SA’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom
Koutsantonis said the iron ore industry worldwide was adjusting to a collapse in global prices.
“This significant fall in pricing has put enormous pressure on iron ore mines across Australia, including in the NT and WA. South Australia is not immune,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“My thoughts are with the affected workers, contractors and their families who are receiving the news.
“I have spoken directly with Arrium Mining’s chief executive and expressed my disappointment with the decision. –ABC
ARRIUM Mining has announced it will cut up to 600 jobs in South Australia’s far north. –ABC
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
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
OUTBOARD motor dinghies waiting for passengers at DCA beachfront in Finschhafen District of Morobe Province. Since the liquidation of Lutheran Shipping services, the outboard dinghies had become the only means of transportation for the people along the coastal villages of Morobe province especially Finschhafen, Tewai/Siassi and Kabwum (FISIKA) despite the risk involved. People travel everyday from Finschhafen to Lae, likewise from Lae to Finschhafen. There are well over 100 plus dinghy operators that provide these vital services to the FISIKA people. Words and picture: FRANCO NEBAS
THE Australian High Commission has announced the commencement of the second phase of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Transport Sector Support Program, it was announced in a joint statement last week.
The second phase of the program will, over the next five years, continue the Australian Government’s long-term commitment to support the Government of PNG to achieve a well-maintained transport infrastructure network.
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The main activities in the second phase of the program will focus on assisting PNG to deliver rehabilitation of major national highways and improve safety and security standards in the aviation and maritime sectors.
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG Deborah Stokes welcomed the commencement of the second phase of the Transport Sector Support Program.
“The new investment will focus on projects that increase the pace of upgrading more major roads to a good condition. We will also work with partner transport agencies to remove service delivery bottlenecks and support improved quality of road works and other essential transport services,” Ms Stokes said.
In welcoming the commencement of TSSP Phase Two, Secretary of the Department of Transport, Roy Mumu said; “Australia is a longterm partner of PNG, and we have been working together over many years to improve transport infrastructure. The Transport Sector Support Program will be guided by the priorities contained in PNG’s National Transport Strategy and assist in the implementation of the strategy’s actions to address the challenges in the transport sector.”
The Transport Sector Support Program works closely with PNG land, maritime and aviation transport agencies to develop a safe, reliable transport system which enables economic and social development in PNG.
Australia’s fi nancial support provided to PNG through Phase One of the Transport Sector Support Program totalled PGK 950 million over the period 2007-14.
This included delivering road maintenance projects in PNG to the value of more than K700 million, K121 million of which was spent on road maintenance activities in Bougainville.
Expenditure supporting projects in the aviation and maritime sector totalled PGK45 million and included vital projects for baggage handling security and air traffic control technology.
If all road kilometres sections worked on over this period were placed end-to-end, they would stretch over 17,500kms. This is an equivalent distance to travelling from Port Moresby to Canberra six times; or the total length of PNG’s coastline.
The management of the second phase of TSSP was awarded to SMEC International.
The management contract value is A$149.7 million (equivalent to approx. K319.6 million).
SMEC International will be responsible for administering the program, including recruitment and performance management of project activities.
SMEC International will also provide fi nancial and procurement oversight for all projects and ensure implementation is in accordance with the joint statement on zero tolerance to fraud in Australia’s aid program in PNG.
WORK on the 26-kilometre Lae to Bukawa Road is progressing well. However, there are still a few issues that need to be attended to.
Morobe provincial Works manager Kingsford Kassen revealed this at an interview with the Post-Courier last week.
“The road project itself cost K9 million in total, however, an initial funding of K2 million was made available.
“And under the agreement between JICA and the department’s plant and transport division, we’ve managed to complete the first 10 kilometres of the road, which cost around K1.9 million,” Mr Kassen said.
He outlined a few challenges that they’ve faced since the commencement of the project and he described them as “ongoing”.
“Apart from the continuous wet weather, there has been a delay in paying machine opera-
tors, but the situation is under control.
“The main issue right now is to do with land owners from Situm village and others near the project site,” he said.
Mr Kassen further stated that executives of the local level government area had advised them the area belonged to the state.
This agreement allowed the contractors to continue working on the road despite complaints from the locals.
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COMPARED to the number of attacks that occurred between 2009 and 2013, 2014 was a relatively tempered year as far as oceanic piracy is concerned.
Statista noted 445 instances of ocean liners being infi ltrated by pirates in 2010. Last year, that number decreased to 72 – a signal that the contentious environment that has stirred apprehension among procurement management officers and other professionals involved with the supply chain has largely decreased.
The question is: Are distributors out of the water? In order to determine whether ships can freely traverse the globe’s waters without taking precautions to protect themselves against pirate attacks, it’s important to assess whether ocean-bound plunderers are simply employing new tactics or are hitting other logistics assets.
Statistics don’t paint the whole picture Somalia has typically received the most attention in regard to pirate attacks, and a significant reduction in activity from pirates originating from that nation has contributed to an overall reduction in global piracy. The Seychelles News Agency noted that consistent victories over alQaida-linked Somali terror group al-Shabaab by the African Union Mission has weakened the organization’s hold over territories that have served as bases for Somali pirates.
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KIUNGA
DARUFLY PORTS
Depending on who you speak with, a number of factors contributed to the rise of Somali pirates. The Telegraph reported that a lackluster fishing economy and the country’s political collapse in 1992 spawned a nation berated by consistent clan wars. In the midst of a monetary environment that offers meager standards of living for those who choose to earn money through legitimate means, piracy presents itself as an attractive trade to up-and-coming denizens who want to rise out of the poverty they have been accustomed to.
“Young people get attracted into this business because there is very high unemployment here, almost 100 percent, with no factories or industry,” said former Puntland Interior Minister Mohamed Kalombi to the source. “But now they see the chance to make millions of dollars through crime. With their money, the pirates are buying weapons and even bribing the justice institutions so that they will not be caught.”
PORT MORESBY / KIUNGA/ DARU Lae amywong@hubline.com
Ph: 323 6726 Manfred.Akis@pngexpressline.com
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AnnouncemeALL EMPTY EQUIPMENT RETURNS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ORIGINAL EIR (ie. Empty Return Docket) ISSUED BY PEL AT TIME OF IMPORT RELEASE & EMPTY RETURNED BACK TO PAM LOGISTICS DOGURA DEPOT (6 MILES) - 3257788 DND WILL BE APPLY FOR THE LATE CONTAINER RETURN
While the election and acceptance of political moderate Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in late 2012 has brought a level of stability to the country, what precautions did enterprises take to deter pirates from disrupting their supply chains?
Reuters noted the Queen Mary 2, a British cruise liner that carries 2,500 passengers and 1,300 crew members, apparently hires armed private contractors to escort them through waters that are at risk of encountering pirates. This precaution has become routine for Cunard, a British ocean liner company. Although exact security measures were not disclosed to the news source, the company did confi rm that mercenaries aboard other vessels regularly carry assault rifles similar to that of M-16s.
Despite the prevalence of private contractors, military networks are often leveraged for protection. Reuters referenced the establishment of the UK Maritime Trade Organisation, which allows British container ships, tankers, cruise liners and other vessels to register with UKMTO when they’re traversing contentious waters.
Not out of the water yet
While these and other security measures have generally discouraged Somali pirates from conducting hijacks, Southeast Asia has not been exempt from such attacks. Maritime Executive noted that initiatives taken against small tankers throughout the region rose by almost 50 percent between 2013 and 2014.
West African nations are also experiencing instances of piracy. The source noted that oil tankers have become the primary targets of Nigerian pirates. It appears, for the most part, these perpetrators are looking to steal the resource as opposed to holding vessels as ransom.
Regardless of these measures, consulting experts who keep a close on the wax and wane of piracy is advisable.
Source: Strategic Sourceror
SEA transport is an expensive option for people living along the neglected Kokopo-Pomio South coast Economic Corridor that is linked by the worst road conditions and more than five wet crossings.And when there is a fight along this route like the recent Ralubang and Vunabaur unrest, people take to the sea. These young men from Lat village gladly posed for us at Northern and Joanne Mar’s beach front along the south coast. East New Britain is labelled as a model province in PNG but life on the ground shows people struggles to get basic services is a daily affair that has yet to be improved. Words and pic Lawrencia Pirpir
MEET a galaxy of superstars making a name for themselves - on the sports field, in the movies and on the world music scene.
A brand new television entertainment magazine was launched this week by Digicel Play. Promising to give subscribers a virtual back stage pass to programs airing this season, the first issue boasts a special cover-feature on the hit show E xtant , starring Oscarwinning super-nova, Halle Berry.
This is Berry’s first role in a television series and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, is clearly over the moon with his leading lady. “There’s only one Halle Berry,” he said, “and we are incredibly honored that she has chosen Extant to expand her illustrious career. As she does with everything she touches, Halle will bring a deep authenticity to her role.”
Elsewhere in the magazine, subscribers can enjoy reading about dozens of new shows and television series’ featuring across the 29 channels that make up the Digicel Play platform. These include family shows, cartoons, news and sports coverage, plus all the latest dramas and reality tv shows. There’s a
quiz on mega-star Rihanna, an intriguing article about Ellen DeGeneres and a competition for Nickelodeon fans with 5 awesome stationery-packs up for grabs –perfect for members of your family heading back to (or just starting!) school.
There’s plenty of local content too; a double page spread introducing the team behind TVWAN News and PNG Proud and a couple of great articles about rugby, staring Will Genia and the SP Hunters.
Head of Marketing for Digicel Play, Jack Bourke, is thrilled with the look of the new magazine and its multi-platform delivery.
“Subscribers can pick up a printed copy in-store, or simply download it to their mobiles or tablets for free from the Google Play store,” he said.
“You can also read it as an e-zine on our dedicated magazine website.”
If you’re keen to find out when your favourite sitcoms are scheduled, or get the low-down on new TV hits heading PNG’s way, then simply log on to: www. digicelplaypngmagazine. com or the Google Play Store – then follow this link: https://play.google.com/ store/apps/details?id=com. digicelplaypngezine
LATITUDE Zero Productions (LZP) studio is opening up its 2015 calendar to promote live performances for its artists. Brixiie is the fi rst artist this year to kick start the live entertainment arranged by sports inn and the studio. LZP will be the stage band to back this solo artist from Gulf Province. All fans or friends are invited to come along to support our local musicians. Gate is K20 while pre-sold tickets at the studio is K15. For more information call 71723127.
EAGLE Rock Entertainment
are proud to announce the release on 2 March 2015 of ‘Shania: Still The One Live From Vegas’ on DVD, Bluray and Digital Video from Shania Twain Virgin EMI, a division of Universal Music Group UK, will simultaneously release the CD version.
International superstar Shania Twain wrapped up her successful two-year residency in Las Vegas in December 2014.
The five-time GRAMMY winner had entertained concert-goers from all over the world at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace during the course of her 105 performances and now, fans have
an opportunity to bring the Vegas production home with the release of ‘Shania: Still the One Live from Vegas’. Produced by Twain herself, Live from Vegas captures the full ‘Shania: Still the One Live From Vegas’ stage performance plus over an hour of never-before-seen behindthe-scenes footage tracking the conception, training, rehearsals, costumes and all decisions in between that go into creating a one-of-a-kind experience for the audience.
The show features a 13-piece live band, dancers, trained horses, a flying motorcycle and plenty of Vegas flash.
‘This show has been my labour of love for over three years,’ shares Twain.
‘It has meant so much to me and was such a privilege to live out my visions on that stage, and it is so exciting to now get to share the whole experience with the fans all over the world!’
TRACKLISTING
Opening / I’m Gonna Getcha
Good! / You Win My Love / Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You) / Up! / Good, Bad And Sexy (Interlude) / I Ain’t No Quitter / No One Needs To Know / Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? / Any Man of Mine / Shania Style (Interlude) / That Don’t Impress Me Much / Honey, I’m Home / (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here / Carrie Anne / Come On
Over / Love Gets Me Every Time / Rock This Country!
/ Today Is Your Day / Black Horse, White Horse (Interlude) / You’re Still The One / From This Moment On / Red Storm (Interlude) / Man! I Feel Like A Woman! / Rock This Country! [Bonus, Live From Calgary]
With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide and U.S. sales topping 34.5 million, Shania Twain remains the top-selling female country artist of all time. Her 1997 release ‘Come On Over’ has sold in excess of 15.6 million making it the top-selling country album and places it in the Top 10 all genre best sellers of all time.
THE Vanugaraka clan of Hood Lagoon has hostsed its usual annual Christmas breakfast for its clan members.
It’s an annual event. The clan is made up of four subclans of Kwara Olo, Kea Walana, Pau Uolo and Nanao. The 2014 annual breakfast was hosted by the Nanao subclan. The breakfast started off at 6am with the beautiful singing of peroveta which was followed by a presentation of a dance item. The opening speech and prayer
was led by William Kwara. Mr Kwara in his opening remarks challenged the young generation to value the true meaning of Christmas. After breakfast the gentleman were also issued a challenge to bake scones. The females were asked to taste the baked scones to come up with a winner. Of course they were all winners with each gentleman rewarded with garden tools. Thumps up to the gentlemen who took part in this event which also raised
some eyebrows among the public who were stunned to see their baking skills.
The community made a special acknowledgement to the spouses and daughters of Nanao who prepared the wonderful breakfast and to the hardworking husbands and sons who provided the wallabies and pork meat for the main menu. The community aims for another bumper Christmas this year.
The Nanao clan also hosted the game fishing tournament on the eve of
Boxing Day. The tournament saw all villages take part in the event namely the Keapara, Amoa and Oneraka clans which saw 14 dinghies and a mammoth double hull canoe owned by prominent Keapara villager Friend Kini with his team. Deadline was set at 9am the next day. The women in the village welcomed back the fishermen with a number of dance items on the beach front of the Nanao clan as they sailed back. The catch was counted and weighed
up to declare the winner with breakfast provided for the fisherman. The tournament was won by the team led by Alewa Leka for most catches and the largest fish caught. Individual winner of biggest catch was grabbed by Vakona Iga and runner up went to Mark Walo. In thanking the fishermen Mr Kwara said it was a blessing to have a beautiful lagoon named Raiowai. The tournament was exciting and he thanked the prominent fathers and sons who took
part in this event namely; Friend Kini, Professor Api Maha, Kana Wamala and Ai Pala. As the Christmas festivities were coming to an end with new year approaching the much-talked about crocodile which has been roaming the Raiowai lagoon and scarring the locals had been killed. The crocodile had scared men from fishing and women from collecting shells for a month. The beast was finally shot by locals Colin Maha and Api Olema at the beach.
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Tony Abbott has awarded his country’s highest honour to the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip.
The 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh can now add Knight of the Order of Australia to his list of titles, a statement released by Abbott’s office early on Australia Day revealed.
Prince Philip will join retired Australian Defence Force chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as the country’s next knights, an honour that was reintroduced by Abbott last year.
Abbott said Prince Philip was being recognised for his contribution “to Australia throughout the Queen’s 62-year reign”.
“Prince Philip’s long life of service and dedication should be honoured by Australia,” the statement said.
“For three-quarters of a century, Prince Philip has served the Crown, and the wider Commonwealth.
“He served originally as an officer in the Royal Navy and then as a member of the royal family.
“He has served Australia with distinction and is patron of over 800 organisations.”
Abbott made special mention of the Duke of Edinburgh Award
in Australia, which he said had positively influenced the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Australians.
Prince Philip joins his son, Prince Charles, who was made a Knight of the Order of Australia in 1981.
“It is fitting that we pay tribute to an extraordinary life of service,” Abbott said in the statement.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Houston was an “outstanding” person to receive high Australian honours.
But the Prime Minister was in a time warp awarding a knighthood to Prince Philip on a day Australians were talking about their national identity, he said.
“I just think people think it’s an unusual priority,” he said.
“It’s outside the mainstream, I think, of Australian thinking to have done this.”
Shorten added that a Labor government would probably end the revived tradition of knights and dames.
“When we look at Australia in the 21st century, it’s about who we’re going to be as a people,” he said.
“I just think giving our top award to a British royal is anachronistic. To be honest it’s a bit of a time warp, I wasn’t quite sure
it was serious until I realised it was.”
Labor backbencher Tim Watts asked if the move was a hoax.
“I’m at an Australia Day barbecue in Sunshine and talking to my constituents and letting them know that we just made Prince Philip a knight - and they laugh,” he said.
“At first people think we’re winding them up and it’s a joke.
It just shows Tony Abbott is on a different plane to most Australians.”
Greens leader Christine Milne also mocked the decision.
“It’s like a joke within a joke, that Australia has knighthoods, and that we’re awarding one to a member of the British royal family,” she said.
“As we saw with all nominees for Australian of the Year, there are plenty of wonderful people right here who are worthy of recognition, but this is Tony Abbott - stuck on what Australia was and failing to notice all that we are, or have any vision or pathway towards all that we can be.”
The choice of Prince Philip as Australia’s next knight was met with derision from some on social media immediately after the announcement was made.
When he announced the return
of knights and dames as Australia’s top honours last March, Abbott said the honour would be reserved for Australians whose contributions to national life were thrust upon them rather than sought.
Up to four knights or dames will be appointed in any year.
The first dame was the outgoing governor-general Quentin Bryce and the first knight was the incoming Governor-General Peter Cosgrove.
Professor David Flint, the national convener of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, spoke in defence of Abbott’s decision on Monday.
“I think it’s a worthy reward, he’s had a very long connection with this country,” Professor Flint said.
“We have a tradition of handing awards to people from other countries and I see nothing wrong with awarding it to a Greek who became an Englishman who worked very hard to keep us free in the Second World War and has made a major contribution to us without being paid anything.”
The honours would have to have been signed off by Buckingham Palace under new arrangements brought in by Abbott last year. – stuff news
THE Northern Territory Labor Party president and union official who has left Australia to join the fight against Islamic State is level headed and professional, says a former colleague.
of the Labor Party suspended and had earlier resigned from his position as secretary to the NT branch of the United Voice union.
cipled as to go and fight for what he sees as a just cause in stopping ISIS Daesh,” he said.
TONGA’S King George Tupou VI is to be formally crowned on July 4, Tonga Daily News reports. The Palace’s Office has confirmed the date for the coronation, which is due to held at the Pangai Lahi field and the Royal Palace compound, it reports. Heads of government from around the world are expected to attend, as well as many Tongan expatriates. The previous King George died in March 2012.
SOLOMON Airlines is planning to open its new Honiara to Sydney route at the beginning of June, the Island Sun newspaper reports. The announcement was made at a welcome function for the new minister of culture and tourism Bartholomew Parapolo. The paper reports airline experts will be going to the Solomon Islands later this month to help with the preparations. Solomon Airlines currently has direct flights to Brisbane and Vanuatu but there are plans to fly to more international destinations.
THE Guam Homeless Coalition says it will carry out its annual survey of the territory’s homeless on Friday with more volunteers coming forward to help with the count, Radio New Zealand International reports. According to the 2014 survey, Guam has a homeless population of 1,365 persons which was an increase of more than 300 over 2013. The chairperson of the Guam Homeless Coalition, Margaret Hattori-Uchima, says the annual survey is essential in the provision of services to the homeless.
NEW Caledonia’s Koniambo nickel plant is set to resume production after a spill last month shut down the plant. About 500 tonnes of liquid nickel was spilled from one of the furnaces, incurring millions of US dollars of damage in the most serious incident at the US$7 billion (K18.5bn) plant. The authorities have now given the all-clear for production to resume at one furnace while repairs at the other are being completed, RNZI reports. The Koniambo plant is widely seen as the key industrial site to advance the economy of the mainly Kanak northern province.
THE Solomon Islands government says new graphic health warnings are now compulsory on all tobacco products as it tries to stifle high rates of smoking, RNZI reports. Images and messages depicting harm caused from smoking such as lung cancer, blindness and the effects of tobacco on unborn babies will now be on both sides of all cigarette packets. The chair of the tobacco control taskforce committee, Dr Cedric Alependava, says tobacco is a poisonous product that causes disease and is killing Solomon Islanders.
FIJI’S prime minister Frank Bainimarama has apologised for the recent water problems and pollution in the Suva area, saying much of the infrastructure around the capital dates back to colonial times. A broken pipe saw millions of litres of raw sewage poured into the Samabula River last month and infected the waterways and the waterfront around Suva. An environmental emergency was declared nearly a month ago after the pipe burst in early December, RNZI reports.
AMERICAN Samoa’s governor Lolo Moliga has given his support to a confidential informant programme for the Department of Public safety as a way to solve crimes. The acting commissioner of public safety, Save Liuato Tuitele, first revealed the informant initiative at a senate hearing last week about last year’s unresolved shooting incidents, RNZI reports. Save said the idea was to offer a cash reward to entice members of the public with information that can help with police investigation to come forward.
On Sunday the ABC confirmed that Matthew Gardiner had left Australia to fight with a Kurdish militia against IS. He has been stood down as president and had his membership
Luke Whitington worked with Mr Gardiner for the union and said he was extremely surprised to learn of his former colleague’s actions.
“But there’s also a feeling of admiration for someone being so prin-
Mr Whitington said he had had no indication Mr Gardiner was considering leaving to fight with a Kurdish militia, but believed his colleague would have considered his actions. “He’s not a kid , I don’t think he would have done any of this without thinking about it.” Mr Whitington
said. “People who know him from the Northern Territory know he’s passionate, but he’s also level headed and a professional bloke.”
Under Australian law it is illegal for Australians to fight on either side of the civil war in Syria and Mr Gardiner could face life in prison if he returns home. But Mr Whitington was adamant Mr Gardiner was doing the right thing.
THE authorities in French Polynesia have rejected a Hungarian extradition request, saying the 34-man fugitive who had been arrested is free. The man was taken into custody after a routine check of a yacht on Huahine the week before Christmas when police discovered he was wanted for fraud, RNZI reports. He was kept in jail in Tahiti for two weeks while paperwork for his return to Hungary was being processed. However, the French authorities have rejected the Hungarian request, saying there is no guarantee the man will get fair treatment.
THE vice-president of the Democratic Party in the Cook Islands, William Pera, says phone calls and rumours have been getting stronger since the weekend, pushing for an urgent party conference after an MP was approached by the ruling Cook Islands Party, RNZI reports. Mr Pera says Wilkie Rasmussen, who is the Democrats’ current leader but no longer holds a seat, is likely to be ousted. The prime minister Henry Puna has said he wouldn’t rule out a coalition between the two parties but Mr Rasmussen has called the idea wishful thinking. Mr Pera says members of the Democratic Party executive are yet to meet and name a date for the conference.
THE Islamic State group has confirmed its militants have killed Haruna Yukawa, one of two Japanese nationals it has been holding hostage.
A video was released with an audio recording in which a man claiming to be hostage Kenji Goto blamed Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe for his fellow captive’s death because he failed to pay IS a $US200 million ransom by the end of a 72-hour
TOKYO: Japanese authorities are working to coordinate efforts with Jordan and other countries to save a hostage held by the extremist Islamic State group.
“We all have one unchanged goal and we will absolutely not give up until the end. And with that faith, we will try our utmost to reach that goal. That’s how it is,” said Yasuhide Nakayama, a Japanese deputy foreign minister sent to Amman, Jordan, to work on the crisis.
Back in Tokyo, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the government was still analysing a video posted online that purported to show one of the two hostages, Haruna Yukawa, had been killed.
The government has been in crisis mode since an online video appeared on January 20 that said IS had two Japanese hostages and would kill them within 72 hours unless it paid $US200 million ($A254.37 million).
That deadline passed on Friday.
Asked if the government had concluded the latest video was authentic, Suga said, “We cannot deny that the likelihood is high.”
Attention was focused on trying to save Kenji Goto, a 47-year-old journalist who was shown in the video, holding the photo of Yukawa.
The still picture included a recording of a voice claiming to be Goto, saying his captors were no longer demanding ransom but wanted a prisoner exchange.
The contents of the video message, which differed from earlier videos released by IS, could not be verified.
The Japanese public was shocked by the video and news of the likely killing of Yukawa, a 42year-old adventurer, who was captured in Syria last northern summer.
-AAP news
THE most senior US envoy for East Asia is in Thailand for talks with its military government, the highest-level contact since last year’s coup.
The US State Department said Daniel Russel would meet political leaders from “all sides” in Bangkok.
Last week, military-appointed lawmakers voted to impeach former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who also faces criminal charges.
The US, an ally of Thailand, has condemned the coup and suspended aid.
The military took power in May 2014, shortly after a court removed Ms Yingluck from office. The military said it was acting to restore order after months of protests against Ms Yingluck’s elected government.
It has promised reforms and an eventual return to democratic rule, but critics say the army has stifled free speech. Ms Yingluck’s party, meanwhile, remains very popular in rural areas.
Mr Russel, the assistant secretary of state who heads the bureau of East Asian and Pacific affairs, is currently on a scheduled trip to the region, which includes Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia.
deadline announced on Tuesday.
A still photo released online on Saturday night purported to show Mr Goto holding a photo of the beheaded Mr Yukawa. Japan said it was highly likely that the image was authentic.
“The Islamic State has carried out its threat ... it has executed Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa after the expiry of the deadline given,” the Sunni extrem-
ist group said on Al-Bayan radio, which broadcasts in areas under its control in Iraq and Syria.
The voice also revealed a new demand for the release of Sajida al-Rishawi, a would-be Iraqi female suicide bomber on death row in Jordan in connection with triple hotel bomb attacks in Amman that killed 60 people on November 9, 2005.
“It is simple. You give them Sajida and I will be
released,” the voice said.
The Amman bombings were claimed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda leader in Iraq who was killed in a US air raid there in June 2006.
His group was a precursor of IS, and Rishawi’s brother, Samir Atruss al-Rishawi, who was also killed in Iraq, was one of Zarqawi’s lieutenants.
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Abe branded the murder of Mr Yukawa, a self-em-
ployed security contractor, as “outrageous and unforgivable” and demanded IS immediately release Mr Goto, a freelance journalist.
The United Nations Security Council deplored “the apparent murder” of Mr Yukawa, condemed “the heinous and cowardly act” and demanded the immediate release of Mr Goto.
-ABC news
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:
1. Male Athlete of the Year – Best International Performance by a male athlete in 2014
2. Female Athlete of the Year – Best International Performance by a female athlete in 2014
3. 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:
PNG Olympic Committee Inc. on:
Telephone: (675) 323 0114 323 0108 or 71001063
Facsimile: (675) 325 1851 Email: alepani@pngoc.org.pg
Location: Telikom 4-Mile Compound, Boroko NCD
NOMINATION DETAILS
I would like to nominate________________________________________
(name) Of _________________________________In the category of_____________________________________________________ (eg Male Athlete of the Year)
IMPORTANT
Nominations MUST include supporting documentation describing major achievements in 2014 to enhance your nomination and forward to:
PNG OLYMPIC COMMITTEE INC.
PO BOX 467, BOROKO, NCD. 111, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Location: Telikom 4-Mile Compound, Boroko. NCD
DETAILS OF PERSON NOMINATING ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Name ________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
Phone/Contact Number ______________________________________________
US President Barack Obama is attending India’s annual Republic Day parade in Delhi, the first US head of state to do so, on the second day of his visit.
Mr Obama arrived in India on Sunday for a threeday visit seen as a sign of warming ties between the two allies.
On Sunday, both sides announced a breakthrough on a pact that will allow US companies to supply India with civilian nuclear technology.
Indian PM Narendra Modi said it was a “new journey” of co-operation
Mr Obama will meet the main opposition Congress party leaders later on Monday and will also speak at a business summit.
Republic Day marks the adoption of India’s constitution in 1950, three years after independence from Britain. Uniformed soldiers in colourful headgear are marching down Rajpath, or King’s Avenue, where Mr Obama is watching the parade with Mr Modi inside a bullet-proof glass enclosure.
The BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says the ceremony showcases India’s military might with soldiers marching in formation and the latest weapons on display, including several that are American-made.
-BBC news
NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have hailed a new era of friendship between the world’s two largest democracies, as they broke the deadlock on a long-stalled nuclear pact. After greeting Obama with a bear hug as he stepped off Air Force One on Sunday, Modi then trumpeted the “chemistry” with his fellow leader on the first day of a three-day visit to the Indian capital. Obama, whose administration treated Modi as a pariah until barely a year ago, said their new “friendship” re-
flected a natural affinity between the two countries. Both are looking for a counter-balance to a rising China.
While there were no major policy announcements apart from the unblocking of the nuclear agreement, Modi said Obama’s decision to become the first US president to visit India twice while in office had huge symbolic importance.
“Relations between countries depend less on full stops and commas and more on the relationships between leaders... the chemistry between them,” Modi told a joint press conference.
“Barack and I have struck
up a strong friendship... this chemistry has not just brought me and Barack closer but also brought Washington and Delhi - and the people of our countries - closer together.”
After opening his remarks with a few words in Hindi, Obama also hailed the “personal friendship” with his counterpart.
The two men spoke for more than three hours, capping a remarkable turnaround in relations between the two countries after a diplomatic row in late 2013 that saw the Stars and Stripes torched on the streets of Delhi.
The headline-grabbing announcement following the talks was over the nuclear pact, which has faced a series of delays since being signed in 2008.
The agreement should give India access to civilian nuclear technology but has been held up by US concerns over India’s strict laws on liability in the event of a nuclear accident.
While there were no immediate details on how the impasse had been broken, India has reportedly offered to set up an insurance pool to indemnify companies that build reactors.
KARACHI: Thousands have marched in several Pakistani cities against the publication of Prophet Mohammed cartoons by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
“Today we achieved a breakthrough understanding on two issues that were holding up our ability to advance our civil nuclear cooperation and we are committed to moving towards full implementation,” said Obama.
“This is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship.”
The two men also discussed climate change, with India seen as one of the main obstacles to a global deal on limiting emissions that should be signed in Paris in December.
-AAP news
KEROBOKAN: Indonesia
will not order the executions of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran for at least another week.
Spokesman for Indonesia’s attorney-general, Tony Spontana, says the executions of six drug offenders held last week are still being evaluated.
“Evaluation on the first execution implementation is predicted to be finished this week,” he said on Monday.
“After the evaluation of the first executions is finished, then we will prepare for the second round.”
Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 33, have had their pleas for presidential clemency reject-
ed and are on track for the firing squad. They were visited by family and friends on Monday.
Chan’s older brother Michael arrived, followed by Sukumaran’s mother Raji, wearing dark sunglasses.
Sukumaran’s younger brother Chintu went into the prison with his younger
sister, Brintha, both looking upset after the visit.
Australia’s consul-general in Bali Majel Hind accompanied them.
None spoke to reporters.
The pair’s lawyers are preparing to file for another judicial review of their cases, but it’s uncertain the courts will hear a second extraordinary
appeal. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo argues executions of drug offenders are needed to shock the nation out of its drugs crisis.
But lawyers for the Australians, as well as Prime Minister Tony Abbott, argue the men are reformed, and deserving of mercy.
-AAP news
The largest rally on Sunday was held in the financial centre of Karachi by Jamaat-eIslami (JI), Pakistan’s main Islamic party, and according to police estimates it was attended by some 25,000 people.
Protesters shouted slogans including “death to France”, “death to the blasphemers” and “(We are) ready to sacrifice life for Prophet Mohammed”, as anger remains potent over the magazine’s repeated depiction of the prophet.
Karachi has seen the biggest rallies in nationwide demonstrations against the magazine, whose Paris offices were attacked on January 7 by Islamist gunmen, killing 12 people.
Charlie Hebdo this month published a “survivors” issue with an image of the Prophet Mohammed weeping on the cover, triggering a wave of angry condemnation and protest in Muslim-majority countries across the world.
Speaking at the protest, JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq demanded Pakistan call a meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, a group of Muslim countries.
-AAP news
A LARGE part of the United States east coast is bracing for a potentially historic blizzard that is expected to blanket the region with up to 60 centimetres of snow.
The US national weather service has issued a blizzard warning for the New York City area from Monday afternoon until Tuesday (local time), and placed multiple states under storm watches.
“This literally could be
one of the top two or three largest storms in the history of this city and we need to plan accordingly,” New York mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference.
Mr de Blasio told New Yorkers to stay off the roads and to “prepare for something worse than we have seen before”.
American Airlines has cancelled a handful of flights, including a Monday flight from New York’s John F
A JOURNALIST believed to have been the first to report the death of Argentine prosecutor
Alberto Nisman says he has fled the country, fearing for his life.
Damian Pachter, pictured above, who works for the Buenos Aires Herald, left Argentina early on Saturday.
Alberto Nisman’s body was found in his apartment a week ago, hours before he was due to testify in Congress.
He had been investigating the bombing of a Jewish centre in the capital in 1994 which left 85 people dead.
Mr Nisman, 51, had accused several senior government figuresincluding President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Foreign
Minister Hector Timerman – of involvement in a plot to cover up Iran’s alleged role in the bombing.
“I am leaving because my life is in danger,” Pachter told the news website Infobae.com.
“My phones have been extensively tapped.”
He said he would return to Argentina when his sources told him conditions had changed.
On Thursday, Ms Fernandez said she was convinced that Mr Nisman’s death was not suicide.
Investigators initially said they believed he had committed suicide, but later said they could not rule out homicide or “induced suicide”. -BBC
A CALIFORNIA educator who was confronted with allegations of abuse in a phone call by a former student who then posted the conversation on YouTube has pleaded guilty to sexual-assault charges involving two victims.
Andrea Cardosa, a former assistant principal, entered pleas on Friday (local time) to three counts of lewd acts with a child under 14, the Riverside PressEnterprise reports.
Kennedy international airport to London’s Heathrow airport and one scheduled to depart on Monday from Heathrow to New York, spokesman Matt Miller said.
Southwest, Delta and other carriers had not cancelled flights but were bracing for problems.
“It’s safe to say there will be cancellations,” Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant said, adding they would
likely come on Monday and Tuesday. The weather service expects as much as 20 centimetres of snow for western Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, while parts of New Jersey through eastern Massachusetts may get 15 to 30 centimetres of snow by Tuesday morning.
“It’ll come in as a light snow, light rain mixture as early as early evening and then gradually change over to snow, but the heaviest
will be later tonight and throughout Monday morning,” NWS meteorologist Kevin Witt said. “It’s going
to greatly reduce the traffic speed and maybe cause some roads to be at a standstill. “Those who need to go to work or need to go out should expect double time.”
The Philadelphia streets department said on its Facebook page that crews were preparing for a “messy Monday morning commute,” while the Pennsylvania department of transportation warned of hazardous travel conditions. –ABC
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, eight months in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for February 9.
Cardosa was charged last February with 16 felony counts, including five counts of aggravated assault on a child.
Cardosa abused one former student, who is now 28, from 1997 to 2001, starting when the child was 12 and attending Chemawa Middle School. –stuff news
BILL de BLASIO New York
ATHENS: Greece has awoken to a new era of defiant antiausterity after voters handed a decisive victory to radical left party Syriza, putting the country on a collision course with the EU and international creditors.
In a result that exceeded analysts’ expectations, Syriza and its 40-year-old leader Alexis Tsipras won 149 seats in the 300-seat Greek parliament, just two short of an absolute majority, with most of the votes counted.
Incumbent Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s New Democracy party was routed and reduced to around 76 seats.
European finance ministers are set to meet on Monday when they will have the first chance to discuss the Syriza victory, which is likely to renew fears Greece could be forced out of the eurozone if it defaults on its debt repayments.
Syriza will become the first anti-austerity party to take power in Europe and Tsipras will be Greece’s youngest prime minister in 150 years.
He told thousands of flagwaving supporters in Athens Sunday: “Greece is leaving behind disastrous austerity.”
Tsipras repeated his vow to renegotiate the terms of Greece’s 240 billion ($A340.38 billion) bailout with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, but struck a more conciliatory tone than during his fiery campaign.
“The new Greek government will be ready to cooperate and negotiate for the first time with our peers a just, mutually beneficial and viable solution,” the former Communist youth activist said.
An EU source conceded on
THE World Health Organization (WHO) has set out plans for reform, admitting that it was too slow to respond to the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Sunday that an improved deal on the bailout would have to be struck with the new force in Greek politics.
“We will not escape a re-negotiation,” the source said.
Tsipras will quickly come under pressure at home to keep pledges such as raising the minimum wage and increasing pensions for the poorest.
The euro briefly sank to a new 11-year low against the US dollar in Asian trade and stock markets fell over fears that Greece’s international bailout could be in doubt and lead to its exit from the eurozone - a so-called “Grexit”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, seen as the driving force in the EU’s austerity drive, said on Friday she wanted Greece to stay in the eurozone “despite the difficulties”.
Syriza says it does not want to give up the euro.
Sunday’s parliamentary polls were Greece’s fourth in five years, including back-toback votes in 2012.
During that time the economy has shrunk by a quarter and unemployment has soared beyond 25 per cent.
Samaras had pleaded with voters not to turn away from the painful public sector spending cuts he had supported, saying they were helping Greece emerge from recession.
But in a sombre statement conceding defeat, he said: “I hand over a country that is part of the EU and the euro. For the good of this country, I hope the next government will maintain what has been achieved.”
Syriza’s victory could inspire other radical parties opposed to austerity in Europe, such as Spain’s Podemos.
-AAP
newsTOP Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen is due to appear at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face war crimes charges.
A leader of the Lords Resistance Army, he is accused of four war crimes counts and three of crimes against humanity, including murder and enslavement.
His trial will be the first time that a member of the LRA has faced international justice.
The LRA is accused of seizing children to use as fighters and sex slaves.
An ICC statement says that the judge at Monday’s pre-trial appearance of Mr Ongwen will verify the suspect’s identity and inform him of the charges against
him in a language that he will understand.
The prosecution is not expected to formally put its case at this stage.
Mr Ongwen, a feared commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), was arrested after giving himself up in the Central African Republic last month.
Last week he was taken into custody at the International Criminal Court (ICC). His transfer “brings us one step closer to ending the LRA’s reign of terror”, ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement last week.
Uganda agreed that Mr Ongwen should be tried by the ICC despite being a fierce critic of The Haguebased court.
US and African forces had been searching for him since 2011.
He is said to be the deputy to LRA commander Joseph Kony, who is still on the run.
The UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon both welcomed Mr Ongwen’s transfer from the Central African Republic.
The former child soldier said that after years of hiding in the forests it was time to face the charges against him.
His extradition comes nearly 10 years after he and four other LRA top commanders were charged. Three have since died and only Mr Kony remains at large. -BBC news
At an emergency session in Geneva, director-general Margaret Chan said Ebola had taught the world and the WHO how they must act in the future.
She said the corner had been turned on infections but warned over complacency.
More than 8,500 people have died in the outbreak, the vast majority in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Dr Chan said: “This was West Africa’s first experience with the virus and it delivered some horrific shocks and surprises.
“The world, including WHO, was too slow to see what was unfolding before us. Ebola is a tragedy that has taught the world, including WHO, many lessons about how to prevent similar events in the future.”
The WHO says patient database figures give the best representation of the history of the epidemic. However, data for more recent weeks are sometimes less complete than in the regular situation reports Dr Chan said that although disease outbreaks would continue to deliver shocks, “never again should the world be caught by surprise, unprepared”.
The reforms announced included a “dedicated contingency fund to support rapid responses to outbreaks and emergencies”.
There would also be improvements in international co-ordination and greater support for countries that needed to respond quickly to emergencies.
This would also require vaccines and drugs to be brought to the market more speedily.
Liberia announced on Friday that it was down to just five confirmed cases - there were 500 a week in September. Guinea and Sierra Leone have both also experienced falls in infection rates. -BBC news
NIGERIA’S military has repelled an attack by Boko Haram militants on Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in the country’s northeast.
Military helicopters and air strikes were used to repel the Islamist rebels who launched the assault on the strategic city shortly after midnight.
Scores of militants and soldiers were killed in the clash, a military source and a civilian joint task force leader (JTF) said.
“We’re still combing the bush for their corpses, we pursued the Boko Haram men until Auno, 12 kilometres outside the city... some fled towards Mainok,” said
the civilian JTF leader, who declined to be named for security reasons.
Nigeria’s defence headquarters tweeted on Sunday morning that coordinated land and air operations were being used to repel the attacks and a curfew had been imposed on Maiduguri.
“Terrorists who attacked Maiduguri in the early hours of today have been successfully repelled,” defence spokesman Olukolade said, adding that the army was determining casualties.
The insurgents began the attack at the edge of the city in the Njimtilo area and tried to take the airport, security
sources said. The Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram last attempted to take Maiduguri from the same area in December 2013.
In Monguno, located 140 kilometres from Maiduguri, security sources said the military was being overwhelmed by Boko Haram’s firepower. Houses in the town were also being set ablaze and residents have fled.
“An exclusive coordinated air campaign has taken over from ground forces in Monguno, as troops had to retreat from the location,” defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade said in an emailed statement.
The army’s inability to quash Boko Haram is a major headache for Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who visited Maiduguri on Saturday as part of his re-election campaign.
Next month’s elections are expected to be the most hotly contested since the end of military rule in 1999.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Lagos to urge the candidates and their supporters to respect the election outcome, underscoring concerns that post-poll violence could destabilise the country and undermine the fight against Boko Haram. -ABC news
stars
ARIES
March 20 - April 19
Those who either won’t say what’s on their mind or, worse, who pretend to be frank but withhold vital facts are irritating. That’s exactly what you’re facing. However, once you learn more, you’ll understand the reticence of those individuals to speak out. Be patient and you’ll get the facts you really need.
April 20 - May 19
The last thing you want to do is upset anybody. Yet because certain individuals are under the impression you’re prepared to go along with their plans, while others are convinced you’re holding out, some irritations are inevitable. State your intentions clearly, and soon. The rest will be surprisingly easy.
May 21 - June 20
It’s easy to blame your ruler Mercury’s retrograde cycle on every error that arises. Yet with powerful changes taking place in the circumstances of others and in your own life, a certain amount of confusion is inevitable. Ironically, those errors force you to ask questions that you’d need to discuss anyway.
June 21 - July 21
As an intuitive water sign, you have no problem basing decisions on your instincts. However, not everybody understands the power of such feelings, which means what you’re currently considering is being challenged by certain, more literal-minded, individuals. Quietly do what you think best, then discuss their views later.
July 22 - August 22
Few things are more tiresome than unpicking the misunderstandings that come with Mercury’s retrograde cycle. Yet one or two of those you’re currently wrestling with aren’t merely a matter of putting things right. What you learn as a result of those investigations won’t just be interesting, those facts could prove unexpectedly informative.
August 23 - September 22
Pay close attention to what seem minor clashes. While ordinarily these would be no more than that, at the moment they may reveal unacknowledged, but potentially troublesome misunderstandings. You might feel such matters as best ignored. Perhaps. But knowing they’re there, you’ll still wonder and worry when they might pop up.
September 23 - October 22
Recently you’ve been luxuriating in the glow created by the planetary emphasis on loved ones and those activities you adore. Now that your ruler Venus has moved into one of the most practical angles of your chart, you’ll need to hit the ground running. You’ve lots of jobs waiting to be done.
October 23 - November 22
After last week’s powerful planetary emphasis on decision making, those arrangements you discussed must be turned into action. Except you’re still unsure about several of them. Tempting as it is to analyse these further, plunge in. This may seem unwise, but there’s really no other way to learn whether they’ll work.
November 23 - December 22
Teamwork is always important but never more than now. This first came to light last week when Venus, which accents both personal and professional relationships, powerfully aspected your ruler Jupiter. Hopefully, since then you’ve exchanged your fierce independence for a greater focus of dealing with life’s tasks and pleasures jointly.
December 21 - January 19
There are easy ways of doing things and then there are those that are more complex. You’ll often opt for the latter, thinking that by being more thorough from the outset, you’ll take care of any potential problems. However, with circumstances changing frequently, such in depth detail really isn’t necessary.
January 20 - February
The Aquarius New Moon may have been early last week, but you’re still feeling reflective. This is no surprise, as the planetary focus now and over the coming weeks is on reviewing plans, present and future. There’s no big rush. Still, the clearer your thinking, the less you’ll need to debate those decisions.
February 18 - March
At long last you’re putting you and your interests first. For ages you’d been saying you’d tackle these matters but something has always distracted you. If there’s any challenge, it’s ignoring certain selfish individuals who’ll take no notice of what you’ve undertaken but will want your attention, and immediately.
Gordons Ind. Area, Murry Int, SP Brewery, National Newspaper, Westpac Waigani, Monidata, BSP Islander.
Gordons Int. School, Cameron Rd, Sir John Guise Stadium, Erima Shopping, Air Niugini Housing. Badili, Kaugere, Sabama, Two Mile, Parts oF Korobosea, SVS. Town, Park Royal, Ela Beach, Bampton St, Davara Motel, Airvos Ave, Touaguba, Stop N. Shop, Flour Mill.
PNG Power Gerehu, Distributors Ass, Gerehu, UPNG & Art School, Tasion Barracks and Morata 1-2.
PNGIPA to Holiday Inn along Waigani Dr to Cathay, Tokarara, Hohola No. 4.
6 Mile, Jacksons airport, ANG Haus, Airways, CAA, Gateway hotel, Bautama, Kwikila.
Parts of BKO, Brian Bell, Ori Lavi, Taurama Shopping centre, 2 Mile, Ela Motors, Pacific View Apartments, 4 Mile Area.
Marine Base, Yacht Club, Dock area, IRC, Bank of PNG, US Embassy, Paga Hill.
PNG Power, Murray Brks, Hohola Market, PNG Forest HQ, Bishop Bros. Telikom Housing Waigani, Mokoraha Pune Development Bank, NBC Wardstrip, Telikom Complex, Haus Tisa.
NBC, East Boroko, RSL, Pom High, Taurama Brks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Badili.
Parts of Gordons Ind. Area, Hohola, Bowmans, Coca Cola, Steel Industries, Works HQ, Eda Ranu, Stop & Shop.
Lawes Rd, Post Courier, Le-Hunter Rd. & Koki Point, PTC Exchange, Andersons foodland, Windward Motel.
Parts of down town, STC HQ. Defence Building, BP, Parts of Ela Beach, Deloitte tower, PNGBC town, MVIT.
Golf Club, State Reception (Waigani) Museum, National Parliament, Gordons area, National Court, Arts Centre.
Parts of 9 mile, DPI compound, Moitaka power station, Erima wild life, parts of Erima, Stop & Shop, Big Rooster.
Baruni/Tatana, Atlas Steel, Porebada Rd, Papa, Lealea, Telikom, Parts of Gerehu, TST, Rainbow, UPNG & Arts School.
Badili, Kaugere, Sabama, Two Mile, Parts Korobosea, SVS. Gordons Ind. Area, Murry Int, SP Brewery, National Newspaper, Westpac Waigani, Monidata, BSP Islander.
Elcom Gerehu, Distributors Ass, Gerehu, UPNG & Art School, Tasion Barracks and Morata 1-2. PNGIPA to Holiday Inn along Waigani Dr to Cathay, Tokarara, Hohola No. 4. Gordons Int. School, Cameron Rd., Sir John Guise Stadium, Erima Shopping, Air Niugini Housing. 6 Mile, Jacksons airport, Kwikila, Airways & Gateway hotels. Town, Park Royal, Ela Beach, Bampton St., Davara Motel, Airvos Ave, Touaguba, Stop N. Shop, Flour Mill.
Marine Base, Yacht Club, Dock area, IRC, Bank of PNG, US Embassy, Paga Hill.
PTC Housing waigani, Mokoraha Pune Develipment Bank, NBC Wardstrip, PTC Complex Haus Tisa.
NBC, East Boroko, RSL, Pom High, Taurama Brks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Badili.
Parts of Gordons Ind. Area, Murry Int, SP Brewery, National Newspaper, Westpac Waigani, Monidata, BSP Islander.
Gordons Int. School, Cameron Rd, Sir John Guise Stadium, Erima Shopping, Air Niugini Housing. Badili, Kaugere, Sabama, Two Mile, Parts oF Korobosea, SVS.
Town, Park Royal, Ela Beach, Bampton St., Davara Motel, Airvos Ave, Touaguba, Stop N. Shop, Flour Mill.
System emergency load shedding schedule is provided as a guide and is based on available generation capacity from Rouna 1, 2 , 3 and 4 Hydro Power Stations, Moitaka diesel station, PPL Kanudi diesel Station and Kanudi IPP diesel station. All consumers with standby generators are requested to supply their own power until the two generators are restored back. Changes in the schedule may occur without notice in the event if power supply is improved or interruption to our system is further encounted. All enquiries regarding power supply are to be made to our Call Centre on Ph: 303 6100 or 70908000/76535261/76535272
The Security Industries Authority (SIA) is a PNG government agency established by the Security (Protection) Industries Act of 2004 to regulate the operations of licensed private security companies nationwide. The Authority now invites interested individuals to apply for the position of the Manager Licensing & Compliance.
Total Salary Package: K119,040.00 per annum
Responsibilities
1. It’s a three (3) years contract position based in Port Moresby and the successful applicant will be reporting to the Registrar to implement the Security Industries Council resolutions.
2. To help develop policies and initiatives in consultation with the private security companies and interested stake holders to support the long term growth of the security industry in PNG.
3. Supervise the four (4) regional Security Inspectors (MOMASE, Highland, NGI and Southern) to efficiently audit private security companies in their area of operations and to ensure outstanding guards permit and security providers license fees are fully collected on time.
4. Ensure granting of guards permits and security providers licenses are properly cleared before the Registrar signs the instruments
5. Investigate any misconduct by private security firms and furnish report to the Registrar and where necessary refer the matter to the Board of Complaints for determination
6. Ensure monthly reports of each Regional Security Inspectors are furnished on a timely manner and forwarded to the Registrar
7. Ensure holders of a security providers license furnish their Annual Returns for the period ending 31st December for preceding year on or before 31 March each year
8. Develop and compile annual budget for the licensing and compliance division and forward to Finance & Administration Division to consolidate
9. Ensure to do staff appraisals for the first six months and yearly done and submit to Registrar on a timely manner
10. Perform other related tasks as required by the Registrar
Requirements
1. Grade 12 or above with good results in English and Mathematics
2. Attach the latest A4 size photo with detailed CV supported by copies of educational qualifications
3. Have job experiences in security industries, law enforcement or related field.
4. Must have basic knowledge in PNG law especially the Security (Protection) Industries Act of 2004, andthe basic criminal laws.
5. Shall possess good report writing and communication skills
6. Shall be computer literate and be versed in spread sheet, Microsoft and Excel program
7. Be mature, sober, self discipline, punctual, hardworking and can work without supervision
8. Have a minimum of 5 years of experience at a supervisory level
9. Provide at least three current referees with current contact details
10. Must be willing to work after hours and travel extensively around the country
11. Must not have any criminal record with police
12. Be a holder of a current Class 1 driving license
Applications must be addressed to;-
The Registrar Security Industries Authority P.O Box 80
PORT MORESBY National Capital District
Applications can be also hand delivered to the 3rd and 2nd Floor of the Watkins Mall Orkari Street BorokoNCD. All applications close at 4.06 PM on the 16th February 2015. (Previous applicants for this position are not required to re- apply)
Authorized by;
PAUL KINGSTON
The Department of Treasury is the key central agency in the PNG Public Service with specific responsibility for the development and implementation of the Government’s annual and medium term budget framework and the provision of economic, investment and tax policy advice, together with the management of the Government’s Public Debt.
A significant driver in the recent organisational re-structure of Treasury was the recognition of the impact of the changing priorities of Government, and the ever increasing pressure on the central agencies within the bureaucracy to deliver services to Government. In addition to high level organisational changes intended to re-focus and re-prioritise the core work streams in Treasury, the re-structure also highlighted the need for Treasury to attract and retain high calibre staff in order for the Department to provide the high quality and professional service to achieve the Government’s priorities, now and into the future.
Applications are now invited from suitably qualified and experienced professionals for the 2015 intake of the Treasury Graduate Program.Applicants who responded to a previous advertisement for the Treasury GDP in mid-2014 will be considered in this intake and need not re-apply.
PersonalAttributes
Applicants for the Treasury GDP must be able to prove the following attributes:
Qualifications
a minimum Bachelor’s degree qualification with good academic results in all core subjects
Remuneration
condition of employment in the Department of Treasury.
Applications apply for these positions.
Applicants must address the Job Specific Skills in the Job Description, in the context of the applicant’s experience and suitability in meeting the requirements for the position.Job Descriptions can be obtained from Treasury HRM Branch, 4th Floor Vulupindi Haus, Waigani, or by download from the Department of Treasury website at www.treasury.gov.pg
Applicants should indicate two preferences for their first placement from amongst the Divisions in Treasury and provide no more than a one page supporting statement explaining their choice of initial placement. Further detail on Divisional functions can be found on the Treasury website.
Treasury’s core functions. The Program will run for 12 months, during which Treasury will provide intensive training opportunities and graduates rotate through relevant Divisions to gain exposure to the core functions of the Department as part of a structured career development plan. Upon completion of the program, graduates with a satisfactory performance record will have an opportunity to apply for a permanent position.
Depending on the breadth of applications received, a small number of Graduate opportunities may be provided in the Corporate Services Division and Strategy Division. Applicants offered a position in these Divisions will access the full Graduate Development Program activities but will not be subject to rotation of positions across the operational Divisions in Treasury. For any enquiries about these exciting opportunities with the Department of Treasury please contact:
Mrs Sharon Saott-NiagaAPPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 4:06 PM ON FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2015
Written applications should be marked ‘Graduate Development Program” and addressed to:
The Secretary Department of Treasury
WAIGANI NCD
Applications may also be submitted by email to: treasury_recruitment@treasury.gov.pg
Please include your name and ‘Graduate Development should be in PDF format.
POSITIONS VACANT FOR TEACHING & ACCOUNTS AND ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN IN; PRESCHOOL, ABC, ACE CURRICULUM, GRADES; 9, 10, 11 & 12 (PNG CURRICULUM).
Central Assembly of God (formerly Assembly of God Lae, Eriku) seeks to employ suitably qualified personnel in its education ministries – AOG Christian Academy and AOG Secondary School. The schools are located at Eriku and the Okari Conference Centre (Okari Campus) in Lae, Morobe Province.
1. Accounts Officer
We require the services of a skilled accounts officer with the following qualifications and experience;
(1) Diploma in Accounting from a university or college in PNG
(2) Five (5) years minimum MYOB experience
(3) Experience in general ledger reconciliation and preparing accounts to at least trial balance stage
2. Teachers
AOG Christian Academy requires Christian role model teachers to work with children of ages 4 to 14 years. Interested teachers with good spoken and written English language skills, experiences in Christian school and willingness to be part of a team sharing abilities and workloads may apply for teaching positions in preschool, ABC and upper levels following the Accelerated Christian Education syllabus.
AOG Secondary School is a new registered school commenced in 2011. Interested teachers (Levels 3 & 4) may apply for teaching positions in secondary level with experiences in teaching grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. AOG Secondary School emphasizes Christian character in students, if you are energetic and seeking challenge and has the enthusiasm to contribute then this opportunity can be your.
Applications for all positions with supporting documents should be submitted by post with to the address below or hand delivered to the School office at Central AOG Church (Eric Woo):-
The School Board Chairman
AOGCA – Secondary Level
P.O. Box 1330
Lae, Morobe Province
3. Enrolment
Enrolments NOW open for 2015 classes; Preschool & ABC – Many spaces available
Grades 9 & 11 – 70 spaces available each grade
Enquire at School Office located in Central AOG Church (Eric Woo)
This notice is authorized by the School Board Chairman
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
PNG Forest Products, a leading producer of Timber Products in Papua New Guinea is seeking to appoint experienced Draftsmen and Estimators to work within the Company’s Design Department based in Bulolo.
Bulolo is a small quiet secure town that has facilities such as the Commercial Bank, Post Office, Supermarket, Bakery, Private International and Public Schools, a large swimming pool, Golf Course and Bowls Club. It is a tranquil town that does not have trouble associated with larger PNG cities. Charming accommodation will be supplied to suitable successful candidates.
If this role interests you and you have all the experience listed above, please send a brief cover letter addressing your relevant experience along with your up to date CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.
Applications close Friday 30th January 2015. Candidates should apply by email with “Position Vacant – Design Positions” in the subject line to:
Group Recruitment Officer
Human Resource Department
PNG Forest Products recruitment@pngfp.com
In loving memory of Late Ethan Pryce Maris
2008 – 2013
It has been two years since you left us. Not a day goes by without the hope of seeing you again. Though we miss you dearly, each day we take comfort in knowing that you are safe in heaven with the lord and watching over us.
e s g s e u
------- Till we meet again----Mums Flor & Lolo, Nannai, Tetei, uncles Floyd, Kami & Tolen, bros Nabsy, Cj, Blake & Baby Khairal
Reporting to the Credit Manager/Company Secretary, this position will be of supervisory of the team responsible for credit control and debt management functions
Person Specification
Education Qualification
Minimum year 12 Education
Minimum Diploma in Accounting Discipline
Experience & Knowledge
Minimum 5 years experience of credit controlling and debt management in a medium to large commercial organization
Experience of software computerized application/office procedures preferably Accpac Accounting software, MS Excel and MS Word
Competencies/Essential Skills/Attributes/Abilities
Demonstrate high level of numerical accuracy, analytical reconciliation skills, deliver results timely and communicates clearly and assertively
Clarity of accounting concepts, AP, AR and General Ledgers
Reliable, Industrious and ability to work under pressure in meeting accounting period deadlines
Organise and ability to prioritize to meet targets
Excellent interpersonal skills
Ability to work effectively with people at various level
Ability to work on own initiative as well as team player
Flexibility, composure and adaptation to changes, company procedures and policies
Maintain highest level of confidentiality
Matured, good attitude, friendly personality
Ethical, display honesty and integrity, determine and persistent to tasks
Discipline and sense of responsibility
Excellent record of attendance and punctual at work
· Excellent personal appearance and grooming preferred
“If you experiences, qualification, skills and attribution fall within the above specification, immediately forward your application with full resume to the:
HR Officer South Pacific Post Limited
PO Box 85
Port Moresby, NCD
Application close on Friday 17th October 2014.
WE HAVE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION ON SPRING GARDEN ROAD, JUST BELOW THE WAIGANI OVERPASS TUNNEL AT SECTION 58 LOT 13 SPRING GARDEN ROAD GORDONS. ACCESS IS GAINED ALONGSIDE THE POREPORENA FREEWAY AND WE ARE NOW BACK IN FULL OPERATION. WE DO APOLOGISE TO OUR LONG STANDING CUSTOMERS FOR ANY INCOVENIENCE CAUSED AND APPRECIATE THEIR PATIENCE DURING OUR MOVE.
OUR WORKSHOP IS NOW BIGGER AND BETTER WITH HIGHER SERVICE STANDARDS.
BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE BY PH:325 2495/ 325 0129 OR EMAIL (admin@boystoyspng.com) AND TRY OUR SAME DAY SERVICE OFFER.
NATIONAL FISHERIES AUTHORITY & ENBPA, RABAUL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
DETAIL DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT/ SUPERVISION OF THE KURAKAKAUL FISHERIES JETTY AND SHOREBASE FACILITIES.
This is an acknowledgement for the overwhelming interest from consulting companies in submitting EOIs and Bids for said project. I take this opportunity to thank the consulting companies for your time and effort.
Please be advised that you will be contacted only, with the NFA Tenders Board endorsement, should your company has gone through successful evaluation/assessment.
ENDORSED by;
Treasury is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from experienced human resources service providers to assist with the recruitment of up to thirty-five (35) staff at the Assistant Secretary level, and up to three hundred (300) Non-Executive staff at various levels across the organisation. Recruitment action is presently underway to fill positions in our organisational structure at the Deputy Secretary and First Assistant Secretary levels, which is expected to be completed by the end of February 2015.
On completion of the process to fill the Senior Executive level positions, Treasury will proceed to recruit staff at the Assistant Secretary and Non-Executive levels, in the positions identified to be filled in 2015.
Proposals should include details of the nature of the assistance to be provided to Treasury and the fees for:- the review and updating of Job Descriptions, advice and preparation with Treasury staff of the selection criteria for positions, input, review and oversight of vacancy advertisements, the management of the receipting and processing of applications, evaluation of applications against the selection criteria, preparation of initial shortlists, attendance at interviews and scribing services, conduct of reference checks, attendance at selection panel hearings and advice to candidates.
Service providers interested in this opportunity are encouraged to obtain an Information Pack which includes a detailed outline of the functions performed by the Divisions and Branches in Treasury together with details of the Treasury organisational structure, from treasury_recruitment@treasury.gov.pg.
Responses to this EOI must include details of your company profile, experience in the provision of high HR advice and support in a public sector environment, and contact details for other government agencies/large corporate clients who are in a position to discuss the services of your company.
The selected service provider will also be required to present their strategy for the recruitment action to a meeting of Treasury Senior Management in early February ahead of implementing the agreed recruitment processes.
Formal responses should be forwarded via email with the name of the respondent and ‘Assistant Secretary & Non-Executive Recruitment’ in the subject line to: nama_polum@treasury.gov.pg. Attachments must be in PDF format.
Submissions must be received by 4:06pm on Wednesday 04 February 2015, and will be acknowledged. Late submissions will not be accepted.
PUBLIC NOTICES
WAIGANI
CHRISTIAN (SCHOOL) COLLEGE
“Train
Proverbs 22:6
Department of Education Registered Permitted Christian College (STANDARD BASED EDUCATION TRIAL RUN CONCEPT)
FEES STRUCTURE
Kiddies-Preschool Age 3-5years K3,500.00
Elementary Age 6-7 years K3,950.00
Lower Primary Age 8-12 years K4,500.00
Upper Primary Age 13-14years K4,950.00
High School (Grade 9&10) Age 15+ years K5,500.00
Drop outs grade 8 & grade 10 are accepted
Extra coaching classes to bridge gaps
Transferred students accepted
Students eligible to sit for National Exams with main stream schools
Two School Campuses ( Waigani main road & Waigani Heights)
School buses provided door to door services
Qualified and experienced teachers
Christian Oriented College with Strong Discipline
TEACHING VACANCIES
Applications invited from new graduates and teachers with appropriate teaching qualifications in primary and secondary levels. Completed applications with CV be addressed to:
The Chairman Selection Committee P O Box 1324
Vision City, Waigani, NCD Call: 72086344, 76281484, 3436205/ Email: waiganichristianschool@hotmail.com
Mr John Kasu MANAGING DIRECTORPapua New Guinea Associations Incorporation Act
Reg., Sec. 2. Form 1
Notice of Intention to Apply for the Incorporation of an Association
I, Ketship AGESAMO, of 6 Mile, Saraga, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea person authorized by the committee of the association known as
6 MILE SARAGA EASTERN HIGHLANDS COMMUNITYASSOCIATION INC.
5-101273
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:
Refer to AS form 1 with barcode # 78052 for more details
This Notice has been approved by the Registrar of Companies.
Dated 15/12/2014.
The validation code for this Notice is ASSOCIATION-32830931,
P.O
Director
To check the validity of this Notice Enter http://www.ipa.gov.pg/pngassociations/verify
/5-101273/ASSOCIATION-32830931. html in your browser.
Notice generated 15 December 2014 02:43 PM PGT
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.
The Central Supply and Tenders Board (CSTB) on behalf of the Royal PNG Constabulary invites written sealed bids for the Modernisation Housing Programme 2015 Phase 1 (Package 2) and Design Procurement for Capital Works.
CSTB 3242 Construction of 3 x 3L Duplexes, Doyle Barracks, Alotau, Milne Bay Province
CSTB 3243 Construction of 2 x 3L Duplexes, Hutjena, Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville
CSTB 3244 Construction of 2 x Officers Residence and 1 x 3L Duplex, Kenabot, Kokopo, East New Britain Province
CSTB 3245 Construction of 3 x 3L Duplexes, Aiyura, Eastern Highlands Province
CSTB 3246 Construction of 4 x 3L Duplex and 1 x Officers Residence , Kerema, Gulf Province
CSTB 3247 Provision of Procurement and Project Management Consultancy Services for RPNGC Modernisation Housing Programme 2015-17.
CSTB
Bid Security will be rejected
1. Blasting & Painting Equipment
2 x FS Curtis diesel screw compressors 180 CFM
3 x FS Curtis diesel screw compressors 390 CFM
2 x DPR 20KVA diesel generators
4 x Xtreme X60 airless sprayers
1 x Air prep system Schmidt 750 CFM 150 PSI
1 x Blast package (2x blasting pots)
Condition : Good Location : Port Moresby
2. 1994 Mitsubishi 4D56 Delica Bus
Registration : BDQ-521
Condition : Running
Location : Port Moresby
3. 1996 Toyota Dyna Truck
Registration : LAI-617
Condition : Running
Location : Port Moresby
All tenders must be in writing and on the correct form supplied. Only CASH and BANK CHEQUE offers will be considered.
Tenders close on: 31/01/2015 @ 4:30pm
Credit Corporation Finance Limited advises that it will not necessarily accept the highest or any tender received.
Business Development Manager
Credit Corporation Finance Limited
P.O.Box 1787, Port Moresby
Fax: 3217767
Contact Adrian or Clement on 321-7066 in Port Moresby to arrange for an inspection.
Lae Yacht Club Inc. on Buttibum Road, Voco Point in Lae, invites eligible Building Companies for building the extension of Lae Yacht Club to be called Commodore’s Room.
Tender documents will only be provided after paying a non-refundable fee of K500 in the form of bank cheque to Lae Yacht Club Inc.
For all enquiries, please contact Mr. Sinan Bilsel on (675)4724909 or (675)4724091 or email: manager@laeyacht.org.pg
The closing time and date submission of Tenders is at 4pm on Monday, 16 February 2015. The submissions shall be dropped off at Lae Yacht Club Reception Tender Box and must be labeled clearly;
Tender for BUILDING OF COMMODORE’S ROOM LAE YACHT CLUB
Instructions to Bidders
Interested Bidders must arrange with their Agent (s) or a Courier firm of their choice to pick up tender documents and similar arrangement must be done for the lodgement of their bid (s).
Bidders must clearly address the outer envelope containing their bid with the address as indicated above in the Bid Delivery Place and marked with the tender number, description of the project, closing date and time.
The Central Supply & Tender Board will not be held liable for any mishandling.
Authorized by: Philip Eludeme
ChairmanPlease be advise that Boega Limited has ceased it’s company from IRC 21/01/2015 and intending to be de-registered.
Bobby Tabu
Box 304, N.C.D Port Moresby (Boega Limited)
Hosted by Hon. Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP Prime Minister
5th February, 2015, Gateway Hotel\ PROGRAM
PNG Power advises consumers that it will carry out power interruptions to allow workmen to do urgent maintenance work on;
Date: FRIDAY JANUARY 30
Time: 8:00am -3:00pm.
PAreas Affected: Erap Boys Town, Erap DPI Stn, Markham Farm, Wawin DPI, Wawin Nat High, 40 Mile, Chivasing, Leron DPI, Tararang Village & Mutzing Station.
Date: SATURDAY JANUARY 31
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 01
Time: 8:00am -5:00pm.
PAreas Affected: 1 Mile, 14 Mile, Muya Primary Sch, Gabensis Village & nearby areas. Nadzab Airport to Erap Farm, Wawin National High School, Mutzing Station & nearby areas.
Date: FRIDAY JANUARY 30
Time: 8:00am -3:00pm.
PAreas Affected: Erap Boys Town, Erap DPI Stn, Markham Farm, Wawin DPI, Wawin National High Sch, 40 Mile, Chivasing, Leron DPI, Tararang Village & Mutzing Station.
PNG Power regrets any inconvenience caused to consumers
WITH Chelsea reeling from FA Cup humiliation, Liverpool will visit Stamford Bridge for their League Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday with increased confidence of reaching the final.
Liverpool were unfortunate not to emerge victorious from last week’s first leg at Anfield, drawing 1-1, and they will scent blood after Chelsea were bundled out of the FA Cup by third-tier Bradford City on Saturday.
Liverpool’s own FA Cup tie did not go quite according to plan, a 0-0 draw with Championship side Bolton Wanderers leaving them with an unwanted replay, but they were at least spared the embarrassment that befell Chelsea.
THE Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) announced details of the format and participating teams at the 2015 Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. This year 2015 marks the 40th year of the sevens in Hong Kong and the HKRFU is planning an expanded rugby and entertainment offering for the expected 120,000 visitors to the event from March 27-29 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
The world-famous tournament will see Hong Kong once again retain its status
as the largest tournament on the HSBC Sevens World Series (HSBC SWS) with 16 international teams contesting the HSBC Sevens World Series core team competition and an additional 12 teams contesting the international HSBC Sevens World Series qualifier for a chance at promotion to the international series in 2016.
Played underneath ominous clouds before the heavens opened on the champions’ celebratory Haka, last year’s win marked New Zealand’s 11th cup title in Hong Kong, putting them
behind only Fiji with 14 victories in the annals of Hong Kong champions.
Once again, a 12-team qualifying competition will accompany the core team action at the Hong Kong Stadium.
The 12 teams, comprising two teams from each of World Rugby’s six regions, will be battling for the sole spot available for promotion to the HSBC Sevens World Series in the 2015/2016 season.
The winner of the qualifier will replace the bottom placed team on the HSBC Sevens World Series after
the completion of the final event on this year’s Series at Twickenham in May.
The 12 confirmed teams for the qualifier tournament are Russia and Spain from Europe, newcomers Papua New Guinea and Tonga from Oceania, Zimbabwe and Tunisia from Africa, Mexico and Guyana from the Americas and Uruguay and Brazil from South America.
Hosts Hong Kong, champions of the Asian Rugby Football Union’s regional sevens series in 2014, will be joined by South Korea as Asia’s representatives in
the qualifier competition.
The 2013 Asian sevens champions Japan were victorious in last year’s international qualifier and are participating in the core HSBC Sevens World Series this season.
The official tournament draw for all 28 participating teams will be held in Hong Kong on February 16.
Core countries taking part are South Africa, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, England, Samoa, Scotland, USA, Wales, France and Canada. Portugal, Kenya, Japan and Belgium.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho branded the result a “disgrace” and declared himself “ashamed” after seeing the Premier League leaders throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to a team 51 places below them in the English league pyramid.
Elimination by Liverpool on Tuesday would see his side’s potential trophy haul cut in half in the space of four days, leaving the west London club with only the league and Champions League as objectives.
“The most important competition now is the [League] Cup because it is the next game,” said Mourinho.
“We lost at home against a lower division team and in an ideal word it will affect us in a positive, not a negative way, like we have to win the next match and let’s go for it. But I don’t know.”
Liverpool’s preparations have been further aided by the news that former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge could make his return in the game after close to five months on the sidelines with thigh and calf injuries.Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will hope to exploit Chelsea’s FA Cup setback.
AUSTRALIA’S fastest boy has won his first race on the Australian Athletics calendar against runners of any age.
Exciting schoolboy sprint star Jack Hale ran a sharp 10.5 seconds into a gentle headwind to claim victory in the 100-metre sprint at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart.
Hale, Australia’s fastest boy who broke the under-18 record last year when he ran 10.42s, then ran an astonishing wind-assisted 10.13s at the All Schools Championships last month, was undaunted by the move to open racing at the Briggs
event. Hale ran a strong race after being sharp out of the blocks for his comfortable win ahead of Jacob Despard at 10.9s and Jesse Usoalii at 10.92s running into a modest head wind of +0.1.
His coach Rex Morriss was thrilled with the result after Hale had pulled training back for a period and run some professional races over longer distances on grass since his All Schools performance brought him to national attention.
“He did very, very well, 10.5 is a very good result for him at his stage of the season,” Morriss said.
“He has got his running form in order tonight and now he competes
in the long jump in the morning.
The way he is running with his speed he should do well in the long jump.
“He had an excellent start, he seemed to get ahead of the field by 30m and then held on after that. And four of them running under 11 seconds.”
Hale had done a lot of explosive strength work so Morriss was pleased with the impact on his starts.
The Briggs Classic is an unfunded event for athletes so it was primarily Tasmanian runners competing but Hale will soon race in Perth, Adelaide and the Hunter Valley in open events as well as
the National Juniors in Sydney next month.
He aims to win sprint and long jump gold at the World Juniors in Colombia later in the year. The 16-year-old begins year 11 studies this year.
“I think everything is pointing to faster times for him in the coming months and for him to be jumping further with the speed he has,” Morriss said.
Hale has a personal best jump of 7.66m but his sprint times have dropped considerably in the past three months in a period when he was not jumping due to a heel injury. Matt Shervington was the last recognised Aussie sprinter. JACK Hale
THE SP PNG Hunters wish to clarify that Gary Lo was not invited back to PNG by SP PNG Hunters Coaching or Management staff to resume a playing contract, or to return to camp with the SP PNG Hunters.
The club has very strict policies, expected behaviour standards and a code of conduct in place for ALL players, with no exceptions.
As per club policy Gary has been advised that should he wish to secure a return to the SP PNG Hunters in the future he must do so through the Digicel Cup competition, where the Coaching staff, whom are solely responsible for player elevation & recruitment, will assess his performance and attitude.
This is a clear message to all SP PNG Hunters players and other PNG players to seek advice and guidance from the PNGRFL and/or SP PNG Hunters Management to ensure any offers or approaches from overseas clubs are in the best interest of the player’s welfare.
There will be no further comments or statements made on this matter.
Tassell said.
A HANDFUL of Papua New Guinea’s young guns will be on show at the forthcoming Cabramatta Nines slated for this Saturday in Sydney.
PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) CEO Brad Tassell yesterday said the last time the PNG team took part in this competition was in 2013 and that was a Kumul Resident’s team that was preparing to play the South Sydney Rabbitohs NSW Cup team.
“We can’t compare teams though this time around or place expectations on the team to repeat that performance as this is a young team of average age under 20,”
“It’s more about testing them at that level and seeing who performs and who doesn’t,” he added.
When asked whether this squad will form the basis of the Pacific Games team, Tassel said they will be selecting the best and strongest possible team for the Games set for July.
“This includes selecting from the Cabramatta 9’s, Digicel Cup, Hunters (bye weekend) and the NRL if the players are released,” he said.
“It is expected to be a gold medal to PNG so we have a responsibility to pick the best team possible,” Tassell added.
He further said that all of the lead up tournaments including the Commonwealth Championship and the Cabramatta 9’s are designed to give international experience to the younger players to improve their skills and development so they can also be strongly considered for selection.
In regards to players who could make an impact on how they perform, Tassell pointed out that obviously Stanton who is on contract with the Panthers will be the one to watch.
“He was the player of the tournament at the Commonwealth Championships and again will be a handful,” he said.
Tassell said the other is likely to be SP PNG Hunters new signing in Philemon Kimisive. “He is an athlete that and has gone from 85kg when he joined the hunters to over 90kg and his whole body shape has changed,” he said.
“He can be explosive and at only 18 is another big talent coming through. There is enormous talent in this grow and they are still young,” he added.
Tassell there will be several standouts during the tournament. He lastly said that they expect scouts to be at the tournament and have no doubt the players will attract interest.
KARATE
THE Erima Dojo in Port
Moresby will be hosting its first training camp for all kyokushin karate students from February 6-8.
Erima Dojo head trainer Sempai Bernard Soari yesterday said that this is the first of two camps slated for the month of February.
“Because we have a busy calendar for our
students, it is important that we start our training camps early to upgrade their skills for upcoming events,” he said.
“As competition is becoming more sophisticated we need to upgrade our students and fellow teachers,” he added.
Sempai Soari said the camp is targeting their students from the Erima, PNG MOKKA,
Morobe and Lafi Dojo’s plus the New Ireland Province Karate Federation (NIPKF) development squad members.
He further stated that the camp also signals a new wave for kyokushin karate in Papua New Guinea. “Following the success of our fighters during the PNG Games, we are looking to build on that development with the full blessing of
the head of kyokushin PNG Sensei Walter Schnaubelt,” he added. There is a service fee of K50. For further details contact Soari on phone 72792854
“This is one of the reasons we wanted a young squad to go down to the tournament. The more interest we can generate about PNG players the more opportunities that will open up for players to go to Australia or the United Kingdom,” he added.
The PNGRFL chairman’s XV: Stanton Albert, Philemon Kimisive, Ben Hetra, Samuel Koim, Watson Boas, Clement Kilengit, Rex Yalon, Gahuna Silas, Nickson Borana, Dickson Amea, Anderson Benford, John Ragi, Joel Kapia Kee, Ereman Ken, Mafu Silas.
The team left on Sunday to be attached to the Penrith Leagues Club.
BROTHER’S flyer Clint Kut gets his chance to prove himself as the only new face named in the SP Export Lager Papua New Guinea Sevens team.
Kut was named in the 12-member team that will take part in the International Rugby Board (IRB) HBSC Wellington Sevens World Sevens Series tournament from February 6-7.
The pacey finisher from the Capital Rugby Union (CRU) brings added strength out wide alongside the exploits of skip-
per Hubert Tsereha and wellversed Henry Liliket. This follows their two-week training camp in Nadi, Fiji, where PNG Sevens coach Fereti Verebula had the 16-member squad under a strict training regime.
The team arrived yesterday and those selected went into camp at the PNG IPA campus. The team played several trial matches with local clubs and took part in two local tournaments in Lautoka.
“In the Gaunavou Sevens we had two teams with one winning the Plate and the other just los-
ing in the Cup final,” Verebula said. “While it was a positive outcome it would have been good to stay on for the Coral Sea Sevens as well,” he added.
Verebula said the players are just as capable as Fijians, the players need to be playing in more tournaments on a regular basis and building up on their body strength to match bigger players in some areas of the game. “This is unlike in Fiji where there is a strong domestic sevens competition,” he said.
“Our PNG players have a lot of agility and are more than ca-
pable, we just lack the size but in saying that, it was a worthwhile trip to get the players into shape,” he added.
He said the players will go through a physiotherapy session before they get into training also at the PNG IPA grounds.
The SP Export Lager PNG Sevens team: Butler Morris, Henry Kalua, Eugene Tokovai, Leo Tikot Jnr, Arthur Clement, Hensley Peter, Terence Uvau, Henry Liliket, Hubert Tsereha, Wesley Vali, Max Vali, Clint Kut.
