Post Courier, Wednesday January 28, 2015

FUEL PUMPS RUN DRY FLIGHTS GROUNDED

THE roadblocks at the Motuan villages of Hanuabada and Baruni have taken their toll on the city, affecting fuel supply, electricity, travel and other services. Most fuel service stations in the city have run out of fuel yesterday and Air Niugini says scheduled flights have also been affected. Power blackouts all day yesterday has hit businesses and homes hard. The villagers have agreed last night to ease the has the blockade by allowing fuel supplies through. The blockade resulted from the killing last weekend of two Hanuabada villagers, allegedly by killing by trigger-happy policemen who had earlier attacked vendors at a betelnut market at the village.

City siege City siege ends

PORT Moresby faced a major fuel and power crisis if the standoff with disgruntled coastal MotuKoitabu villagers was not resolved but that was averted late last night after hours of negotiation.

The easing of the roadblocks at Hanuabada and Baruni would ensure that the city, critically low on fuel of all forms, can access supply depots in the no-go zones.

Last night Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki and other senior government officers, including acting PNG Defence Force Chief of Staff Colonel Vagi Oala, visited the village to negotiate for the lifting of the roadblock. The villagers, after hours of discussions, agreed to allow fuel supplies through.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

The ball is in your court, Mr Vaki

ITHAS been five days since the tragic death of Hanuabada villagers Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi. Their shooting led to a confrontation with the Royal PNG Constabulary (RPNGC) top brass at the headquarters in Konedobu last Friday and the start of roadblocks past the Hanuabada village as well as Tatana and Baruni.

Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki has announced an immediate investigation into the shooting last Friday in the village, which left two dead and others injured. But the villagers are determined to get the perpetrators behind bars hence their decision to enforce the no-go zones until justice is served.

But the roadblocks were beginning to take their toll on a city that relies on the highway going past the village to access the fuel depots. The NCD had a fuel shortage crisis brought on by the protest with service stations running out of fuel and PNG Power forced to ration electricity supply until last night when villagers agreed to end the roadblocks.

The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI), in an email update to business houses yesterday afternoon, appealed to the RPNGC to begin its investigations immediately to ensure the culprits are identified, hauled before authorities and normalcy is restored.

Last night authorities including Mr Vaki visited the village and met with the leaders of the protest and the families of the two deceased men in an attempt to negotiate the lifting of the blockade. The villagers remained steadfast but eventually agreed after hours of discussion to lift the roadblocks.

We applaud the villagers for lifting the roadblocks as they were obviously mindful of the consequences on the wider Port Moresby community with the looming fuel and power shortages. But their decision to lift the roadblocks should not be seen as them taking their feet off the paddle; the Motu-Koitabu villagers have in recent days demonstrated to the wider PNG community their rejection of police brutality and the need for the Government to address it with a sense of urgency.

Tragically, the shooting to death of the late Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi last Friday is the result of years of neglect and failure by successive police commissioners to restore control and command within the constabulary. It is time for Mr Vaki to return to the basics and he can start by getting those behind last Friday’s shootout behind bars.

It is unacceptable that the murderers are yet to be identified from within the rank-and-file of the constabulary close to a week after the shooting. Why is it taking the police close to a week to complete their investigations? Surely the police would have the names of officers that were deployed to Hanuabada last Friday.

Any further delays in this particular case will only add to the growing public perception that the RPNGC is protecting its men and women, despite the illegality of their actions. The death of an elderly woman betelnut vendor at the hands of city police last year, the car chase and fatal shooting of Lae resident Moanna Pisimi , the Tatana shooting three weeks ago and this case raises questions about the competency of Mr Vaki and his top management and their ability to tackle police brutality. The ball is in your court Mr Commissioner!

BY GORETHY KENNETH

PORT Moresby diesel power stations at Hanjung, Kanudi and Moitaka have shut down yesterday due to lack of fuel supply.

This is because fuel suppliers, Mobil and Puma Energy are not able to deliver fuel to the power stations because of the roadblocks set up by the Motuan villagers in Moresby Northwest to fuel depots located in the vicinity.

PNG Power chief executive officer John Tangit said yesterday that because of this, the holding system for PNG Power in the nation’s capital was at 60 per cent strength. He warned this could drop if the standoff continued, forcing longer blackouts which were imposed yesterday.

As of yesterday the Kanudi Hanjung Power

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Villagers agree to lift agree roadblocks

FROM PAGE 1

THE villagers, after hours of discussions, agreed to end the blockade. The impact of roadblocks by angry villagers over the police shooting deaths of Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi in broad daylight last Friday had already being felt by the city.

Station at Kanudi closed down indefinitely because national staff and labourers had run out of rations and the expatriate staff airlifted out for their own safety.

Mr Tangit said if the impasse continued today PNG Power would impose heavy load shedding in the city because “we are stuck behind a rock!”

PNG Power had advised in an earlier media statement that it was able to supply only 50 percent of the city’s demand for electricity therefore, load shedding was being carried out to ration this supply of electricity.

“This is because the PNG Power owned Kanudi Power Station and Moitaka Power station have shut down due to fuel shortage,” Mr Tangit said.

“Delivery of fuel supply to these power stations

has been hampered by the roadblocks set up by local villagers in the area where fuel depots for suppliers Mobil and Puma are located,” he said.

The electricity supply situation in NCD is compounded by the low water level at Sirinumu Dam due to the dry weather, thus, limiting water inflow into the four Rouna hydropower stations. Despite Rouna power station having an available capacity of 59 megawatts, it was now only able to produce 36 megawatts.

Currently, PPL could only supply 56 megawatts, including 20 megawatts from Kanudi Hanjung Power Station.

The Port Moresby power supply system has a maximum load of 107 megawatts and right now, PNG Power could supply only 56 megawatts, Mr Tangit said.

PNG Power had imposed power rationing after closing its fuelgenerated stations at Kanudi and Moitaka because it could refuel them. Electricity supplier Hanjung Power at Kanudi also closed shop and evacuated its foreign workers.

Airlines have not been affected but major carrier Air Niugini said the fuel situation was tight in Port Moresby and was refuelling its aircraft in outer centres, only topping up from its Port Moresby stock.

City motorists also felt the impact as service stations ran out of diesel first and then petrol as vehicles queued up at the bowsers.

The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce notified its members that all fuel stations were under stress with an added problem that the long lines of vehicles were causing main road congestions. As the city braced itself for the worst, Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah said he had discussed with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill the possible use of his emergency powers to remove the roadblocks.

The office of Motu-Koitabu Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu yesterday said that the roadblocks were being removed. However, his arrival in the village triggered criticism and anger with some villagers questioning his “absence” from the start of the crisis.

AN empty fuel service station in Port Moresby yesterday.

Chamber wants complete investigation

THE Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI) has appealed to police to ensure the investigation into the two deaths in Hanuabada was satisfactory to the relatives of the deceased and traditional landowners.

David Conn, the POMCCI president, said in an email yesterday afternoon to chamber members that they understood and sympa-

thised with those who lost their loved ones and it was important the investigations be done.

“Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones in this terrible manner and fully understand and sympathise with the emotions at play and urge police to investigate the shootings to the satisfaction of their relatives and traditional landowners. “Public sympa-

thy is with the Hanuabada, Baruni and Tatana villagers at this moment and we shall be working with all parties involved to see that this is maintained, at the same time ensuring normal fuel supplies to city residents are restored as soon as possible so that daily life business can continue,” he added.

The POMCCI convened an emergency meeting yester-

day afternoon to get a true picture of the situation on the ground while acknowledging that a lot of business houses are now running on their standby generators.

Puma Energy fuel tankers are unable to get to the fuel depot at Kanudi outside Port Moresby to refill due to the roadblocks that the disgruntled villagers have set up with the support of Tatana and Baruni.

Roadblocks hit city fuel supply

BY DONALD WILLIE

THERE is a fuel shortage in Port Moresby as a result of the roadblocks by angry Hanuabada, Tatana and Baruni villagers following the death of two men at the hands of police.

Some city service stations turned away diesel-driven vehicles because they were out of stock.

Puma Energy marketing manager Don Lewthwaite said the fuel levels would continue to drop as long

The bottom line

as the roadblocks were maintained by angry villagers.“Some fuel is being supplied through the Gerehu back road but limited by time and distance of travel so stock will continue to deplete if the roadblocks stay up,” he said yesterday.

The shortage has affected many businesses in the capital which have resorted to contingency plans on the use of fuel. Other companies, especially in the transport sector, have temporarily halted their business

activities due to fuel shortage. Due to safety issues, fuel is only supplied at daylight. Supplies at night were only done through the corridor along the Motu-Koitabu west coastline. According to villagers, the roadblocks would be maintained until justice was served and their demands were met.

Villagers were adamant that the roadblocks would continue in defiance of orders from the MotuKoitabu Assembly chairman, Miria Ikupu.

But last night the villagers agreed to remove the roadblocks after hours of negotiations with Government officials led by the Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki.

It is understood the villagers will control access through the roadblock and will only allow fuel tankers to pass through until the police investigations into the two murders are completed and their demands met.

TOP DOWN

THE Police Commissioner has blamed “lack of good governance” for the actions of his men who went berserk last Friday and allegedly shot dead two Hanuabada men. Good point but adherence to such a principle has to start from the top.

COSTLY

THE Hanuabada villagers could soon lose the support of other Motuans who live past Baruni. Some of them are forking out K10 every day to get a ride on a dinghy into town for work. The dinghy’s size is also restricting cargo, consequently a shortage in basic food items.

UNPOPULAR

THE Motu Koita Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu must be heaving a sigh of relief that the elections are not tomorrow. Looking at recent social media posts by Motuans, he is in their bad books for not responding quickly to the crisis.

FREEDOM

THE ABC TV story on the first asylum seeker to be given freedom in Manus has raised a lot of

eyebrows. With the facility attracting a lot of bad press lately, hearing the refugee speaking of settling down in PNG is somewhat of an icebreaker.

CAR WASH

CAN Eda Ranu check the unlimited water reservoir that seems to be flowing every day along Kila Kila road at Sabama? The underground well seems to never run dry and is the site of a thriving car wash business along that road.

CHECK IT

OUR own checks with the folks along that stretch of road point to bore water as the source. But we do know that there is a main water pipe from Sirinumu dam that runs past the area. It wouldn’t hurt getting your engineers to check it out.

POT HOLE

NOT far from the car wash business is a huge pothole, which according to residents is deep enough to catch city motorists off guard and cause damage to their vehicles. It is an eyesore that the good Moresby South MP should check out.

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

Coal, Oil and Gas are called “fossil fuels” because they have been formed from the fossilised remains of prehistoric plants and animals.

A GROUP of betelnut smugglers were caught at the Laloki check point and detained at a city police cell. The police confiscated 40 bags of betelnut and two bags of marijuana. However, they were released after a few hours, allegedly on the orders of a top cop.

ANGRY villagers still maintained roadblocks following the death of the two Hanuabada villagers last Friday.

Partners review work for quality education

THE University of Technology and the European Union are reviewing their co-operation to enhance access to quality higher education and promote research at the institution.

Unitech vice-chancellor

Albert Schram and Chris Alu, director of Unitech Port Moresby office, met recently with EU ambassador Martin Dihm to review past and current co-operation and explore future collaboration opportunities.

Unitech benefitted from EU funding in 2008-10 for the construction of laboratory for post-graduate environmental research, teaching facility building with computer rooms and lecture theatre and two dormitories with washing facilities for post-graduate students.

The objective of this grant was to increase the enrolment of students and help address the difficulties Unitech was facing to accommodate its ever growing number of students.

A number of students had also been granted scholarships to complete masters and post-graduate degrees at European universities.

Six candidates had applied for this year’s intake. The first student to benefit from this scheme has just completed a MBA (Masters in Business Administration) at Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain.

A number of Unitech support staff were also given the opportunity to train at the University of Porto (Portugal).

These activities have been sponsored under the “Erasmus Mundus Program”, the European Union’s co-operation and mobility program in the field of higher education. The program is open to students in many countries in the world and also in PNG.

Mr Dihm said: “Higher education is immensely important for long term, sustainable development.

Police boss appeals for roadblock removal

POLICE Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki last night appealed to Hanuabada villagers to remove the roadblocks which was affected the city’s power and fuel supplies.

Mr Vaki visited the village, urging the people to move the roadblock away from the main road into the village to give access to the business activities using that Badihagwa bypass corridor.

Motuans urged to end siege on city

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE Government will not hesitate to use the electricity state of emergency powers to remove the roadblocks to restore power and normalcy to the city, Public Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah said yesterday.

Mr Micah, who returned from Rabaul yesterday after visiting PNG Power installations, said he discussed the possibility with Prime Minister Mr O’Neill.

They both agreed that it was a sensitive issue and asked the Hanuabada leaders, who were peaceful people to allow common sense

and good will to prevail.

He called on the Motu leaders to differentiate between police brutality and electricity and fuel to service the nation’s capital.

“I will not hesitate to use the electricity state of emergency powers to open up the road. I hope we don’t come down to that” Mr Micah reiterated last night.

The Minister yesterday directed the SOE controller Tom Ur to open up talks with the Hanuabada and Tatana village leaders to remove the roadblocks and allow the flow of fuel tankers and general traffic.

“The controller will go down and talk to the lead-

ers and separate the law and order issue as a police matter and electricity and fuel to the city is a separate issue,” Mr Micah said.

“I do not intend to use the emergency powers and I really hope we do not come down to that.”

He also warned villagers to refrain from physically confronting fuel tankers out at sea because their actions are criminal in nature and government will not allow that to happen.

“I will not allow power to be sabotage by any group of people. We will not use the state of emergency powers but allow common sense and goodwill to prevail.”

“I have spoken to the Prime Minister and he is very concern about the power and fuel supplies into the city.”

“As a Minister and Government, we will not allow power and fuel supplies to be sabotage over a separate issue on police brutality.”

“I sympathise with the families of those killed and also condemned the actions by police but I appeal to leaders not to cause unnecessary obstacles.”

Minister Micah said the state of emergency is in place and he does not want to be forced to use those powers on a very sensitive issue.

“Police investigations have commenced and your concerns have been heard by the relevant authorities. I will make sure that those responsible will face the full force of the law,” he told the large crowd at a meeting. Replying to this appeal, villager PNGDF Colonel Vagi Oala advised the volunteers manning the roadblocks that a new strategy could be adopted. He suggested that they could be selective on who they let through the roadblocks and only to specific destinations while maintaining the main roadblock.

“We have made our stand and the city and country have felt the pinch of our soft power, without violence, but it’s time to soften the screws but still stand strong.”

Supporting the use of soft power, he said that educated decision must be made according to understanding, knowledge and wisdom.

“My people must be heard and (their wishes) acted upon,” Col Oala said.

The Police Commissioner also the villagers he did not support their plans to stage a protest march, adding that such protests always lead to more problems where innocent people could be hurt and properties and businesses lost.

The village leaders and members of an organisation initiated on social network, Motu Koitabu – the way forward, have put together a petition and were aiming for 10,000-plus signatures. before presenting it to the Government on Friday.

to a quater of an inch a month.

The bottom line

MOTUANS listening to the Motu-Koitabu Assembly chairman Miria Ikupu on Monday

Police antics under spotlight

CHIEF Secretary to Government Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc will be convening a Special National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) meeting immediately to discuss and address continued unaccepted police behaviour.

He said yesterday he has been directed by the Government to convene the meeting as he joined the Motu-Koitabu people in condemning the shooting deaths of two villagers at Hanuabada village last Friday allegedly by police.

“The police hierarchy must seriously look into the Hanuabada matter as well as other related killings around the country,” he said.

“Police are bound by Constitutional duty to protect the public.”

He said the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council was willing to assist the committee set up by the people of Hanuabada to address the issue, through legal aid to ensure justice was served and there was closure for the families and everyone affected by the shootings.

Sir Manasupe said it was becoming a common trend by certain unruly personnel of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to overlook the standing orders while executing their duties.

“This is a concern that has been raised time and time again, not only by the people of Hanuabada but throughout the country,” he said.

“They continue to wantonly and without observing their police standing order, continue to use firearms with live ammunition at wanton will.

“It is now up to the police hierarchy, especially the Police Commissioner, to address this continued unruly and unethical behaviour that are in breach of the constabulary standing orders, for the good of the people and the country.”

Sir Manasupe also extended his condolences to the families of the two men killed, late Nicholas Rarua and late Toka Gaudi and also the people of Hanuabada.

Maipakai disagrees with buai ban policy

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

INITIALLY aimed at ridding the city of Port Moresby of buai rubbish and red spittle, the betelnut ban policy has cost lives and caused endless suffering.

The first death which received intense public scrutiny was of the Goilala grandmother who was killed in a hit-and-run in front of the PNG Power Limited headquarters at Hohola last October while trying to run away from the city rangers. No one has been arrested and charged.

Last Friday, two young men were shot dead at Hanuabada village when police raided the betelnut market which, according to NCD Governor Powes Parkop, is a no-go zone for buai ban enforcers.

Parkop: Don’t blame shooting on buai ban

BY GRACE SALMANG

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has rejected public views that the Friday shooting deaths of two villagers by police should be blamed on his betelnut ban campaign.

“We have not enforced the ban in Motu-Koitabu villages since the ban was declared in October, 2013,” Mr Parkop said yesterday.

“Betelnut has been sold openly in these villages despite the ban,” Governor Parkop said.

Hanuabada in Fairfax Harbour is the biggest Motu-

POWES PARKOP Port Moresby

Koitabu coast village in the National Capital District.

Mr Parkop made this comment in response to a letter to the editor, “Parkop must resign” in the Post-Courier newspaper yesterday over the Hanuabada killings which came soon after a

police raid on buai vendors at the village main market.

The Governor said in a text message to the newspaper that the NCDC police and city rangers do not enforce the ban in the Motu-Koitabu villages out of respect for their leaders and people.

“Last Friday, the police were invited there to clear vendors off the road as they were encroaching on the road and affecting flow of traffic,” he said.

“They were invited by the villagers and not sent on our direction.

“Perhaps the tactic used or

misunderstanding caused vendors to attack them resulting in police having to defend themselves and in the melee fatal shots were fired.”

He explained that the police action last Friday was not part of the betelnut ban exercise.

“It was for clearing road access. 95 per cent of vendors at the market are outsiders and not local villagers.

“So it is wrong to link the shooting and killings directly to the betel nut ban.

I reject that completely,”

Governor Parkop said.

Bawa: Police get extensive gun use training

POLICE officers are trained extensively on the use firearms when they undergo six months of training at Bomana Police College, says National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa.

Asked to comment on whether police should be armed with high-powered firearms he said,“that’s not a decision for me to make, it’s a decision that the top executive makes”.

He said that carrying a weapon is part and partial of a policeman’s tools of trade.

“It’s part of the uniform.”

Mr Bawa said policemen could not go about their duty without being armed and to disarm was a matter for the police top hierarchy to discuss and decide on.

On the Hanuabada impasse, Mr Bawa said the situation was still tense as police investigations into the shooting deaths of Nicholas Rarua and Toka

Gaudi continue.

“Our investigators have started going into the village, collecting information and evidence.

“They’ve started the preliminary part of the investigation,” he said, adding that the villagers had cooperated well so far.

Mr Bawa acknowledged that the roadblocks were still in place through the village and at the Bagihagwa bypass, which links the city with the city’s two fuel

suppliers, the PNG Power Kanudi and Hanjung power plants and the PNG LNG Project processing and shipping facilities at PapaLeaLea villages.

“In the next couple of days we will talk to the village elders to clear the roadblocks since we have now the police investigators on the ground to conduct the investigations,” he said.

Mr Bawa reiterated that police training on the use of firearms at Bomana is

extensive and involved when and how to use them in line of duty.

“Part of the six-month training involves use of firearm and the methods on how to basically discharge a firearm.

“Every police officer who goes through Bomana Police College training is taught how to use firearm.

“They are taught how to use a firearm if and when a situation warrants them to use.

Despite the controversial ban which applies to chewing and selling, many city residents chew betelnut. The nuts are sold on streets, and even in police barracks, because they sell well and make money for the vendors in a city where the cost of living is very high.

The wider public and some politicians have questioned the ban and how it could be enforced effectively without the cost of human lives.

The latest critic is Kikori MP Mark Maipakai who called on the NDC Governor to rethink the ban.

“I am calling on the city authorities and Governor Powes Parkop to think twice about their city rules,” Mr Maipakai said.

“I am disturbed and quite saddened at what has eventuated at Hanuabada.

“Have some respect for Papuans and the MotuKoitabuans.

“They have given all they have, including their land, to make this city what it is and the simple selling of betelnut is not justification enough for taking a person’s life.

Mr Maipakai said Papuans, and his Gulf people sell betelnut to make ends meet and they should be allowed to do so.

ANDY Bawa

THE Hanuabada villagers have agreed last night to lift this roadblock.

We have not enforced the ban in the MotuKoitabu villages...

Iranian keen to settle here

ONE of the first refugees to be released from the Manus Island detention centre says he is happy to be free and is keen to contribute to Papua New Guinea.

Reza Mollaghlipour, 38, a civil engineer, from Iran was among 50 others who had been granted refugee status by the Government at the end of last year.

On January 21, Mr Mollaghlipour and a Pakistani man left behind the protests that had unsettled the regional processing centre for a week, took a step towards eventual permanent resettlement in PNG.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation spoke to Mr Mollaghlipour as he wandered around the Lorengau market, looking at sea turtles, coconut products and traditional woven baskets.

“After a long time living in detention, around 18 months, I am very happy that I can leave the detention centre,” Mollaghlipour said.

“You can see I’m walking around here without any security officers, without anything, I’m alone,” he said, smiling.

A total of six refugees have moved into the brand new A$137 million (K295m) accommodation complex next to a school on the outskirts of Lorengau.

They include three Iranians, two Pakistanis and an Afghan man, with more

transfers expected as word spreads about the comfortable housing and freedom of movement.

“Yesterday we had some more people here for visiting and they also decide to come,” Mr Mollaghlipour said.

“We can say that we have a good chance of a comfortable life here.

Australian immigration and Papua New Guinea immigration really helped us.

“This place (the East Lorengau transit facility) is very different from our last place, I’m really happy to live here and I don’t have any problems.”

Local residents have told the ABC the accusations of tensions between them and the asylum seekers have been exaggerated.

Security guards and former guards at the detention centre said they felt sorry for the majority of the detainees and considered them brothers.

“Some people in Manus probably want the refugees to stay with them because they need them to stay and develop their province or the country as a whole,” said one man, who works at the centre and chatted to Mr Mollaghlipour as they walked through the market. Others spoke of smuggling in special food for asylum seekers and criticised the strictness of expatriate guards. – ABC News

O’Neill meets Abbott over asylum deal

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

AUSTRALIA and Papua New Guinea

Prime Ministers, Tony Abbott and Peter O’Neill met in Canberra on Monday to discuss issues of mutual interests, including the Manus asylum issue.

Mr O’Neill travelled to Australia’s capital at the invitation of PM Abbott where both leaders discussed ongoing bilateral engagement issues.

It is understood that about eight asylum seekers had been held in custody.

Mr O’Neill said the meeting with his Australian counterpart went very well and covered a range of subjects of mutual interest.

“We spoke about the continued issues on Manus Island,” PM

O’Neill said. He said the Government and the officials had exerted control over the protest at the processing centre, thus, normalcy had returned as a result. Mr O’Neill said processes are underway to enable refugees to move in to the transit centre for final documentation to be completed so they can be resettled in PNG.

“This is a good initiative of both the Australian and the PNG Governments, we can see a genuine desire for resettlement in PNG.

“Those deemed not to be a genuine refugees will be sent back to their respective countries.”

Manus hunger strike ends

THE hunger strike at the regional processing centre on Manus Island has ended, after a 13-day protest of Australia’s immigration policies keeping asylum seekers locked up.

Ian Rintoul, of the Refugee Action Coalition, said yesterday the asylum seekers in Mike compound had started eating again by yesterday evening, after they called off the protest.

This was in reaction to security guards entering a nearby compound and making arrests.

Mr Rintoul says Wilsons Security

had flown reinforcements to Manus island on Sunday afternoon.

They began raids on the Foxtrot compound, herding asylum seekers into the gymnasium area, Radio New Zealand International reported.

Mr Rintoul said the Australian government must halt any plans to force these refugees into temporary housing.

Both governments must address the fact that there are no arrangements for safe resettlement in Papua New Guinea.

THE Manus asylum seeker facility built and opened late last year which houses the first 50 asylum seekers who were found to be genuine refugees. At this centre, they will be taught about how they would fit into the lifestyle of the area they prefer to be resettled in.

EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION

Malabag refutes drug shortage claims

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

HEALTH Minister Michael Malabag has refuted claims that the first-line drugs for antiretroviral therapy (ART) are out of stock.

Mr Malabag said in a statement yesterday that the Health Department had a strong monitoring system in place that monitors ARV drug supply and had detected last month that two first line HIV drug combinations of tenfovir (TDF) and laminvudine (3TC) stocks were low.

“The Health Department worked overtime during the holidays to identify surplus stocks from the Highlands and redistributed some of this particular drug combination to major clinics in Port Moresby,’’ said Mr Malabag.

“At the same time the Government fast-tracked the procurement of this particular combination drug through the Global Drug Facility system (GDF) of UNICEF, which arrived within two weeks of knowing the impending stock outs.’’

Cardiac unit proposal needs consultation

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

THE proposal on the set up of a cardiothoracic unit at the Port Moresby General Hospital may have bypassed Health Minister Michael Malabag.

Mr Malabag in response to a query from this newspaper on whether he had anything to say about the proposal by doctors of PMGH to Government Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, said he had asked the Health Department to consult with PMGH and the Sir Buri Kidu Heart Institute last year around July to prepare a comprehensive cardiac unit at PMGH which would be fully funded by the Governmment.

“I am still waiting and I reminded deputy secretary Dr Dakulala again recently. Individual doctors do not just take proposals to the Chief Secretary without consulting the Health Department or me,’’ Mr Malabag said.

The proposal will cost K700 mil-

At a glance

NIL: There is no cardiac unit in any of the government-run hospital in the country.

IMPACT: Treatment to heart related problems are sought overseas. As a result, only those who can afford the medical fees and associated cost can access treatment. needless to say for those who can not afford the cost.

NEED: There is definitely a need for a cardiac unit, at least one, in the country.

OHP: Standing for Open Heart Operation and comes around once a years has saved a lot of heart patients

lion, but this will be set up in stages. Sir Manasupe had asked for a priority list for the set up of the unit which was handed to him by cardiac surgeon Dr Noah Tapaua and physician Dr Weson Boko, who is currently undergoing training in interventional cardiology in Singapore.

The first priority list will cost K206,419.10 and the second priority will cost K292,439.61. At the meeting with the two doctors, Sir Manasupe stated that he would be consulting the Health Department about the proposal. Attempts to get comments from the acting Health Secretary Dr Paison Dakulala were unsuccessful.

Chief cardiologist at PMGH Professor Sir Isi Kevau also could not be contacted for comments. Last week, the institute reported that about 300 patients diagnosed with heart problems at PMGH seek medical attention overseas because cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology were not available in the country. Paediatrician and coordinator of the Operation Open Heart Professor Nakapi Tefuarani said the idea about setting up a cardiac centre at PMGH had been discussed many times before . He said the proposal has the prime minister’s support.

“The GDF system used by many lower middle income earning countries like Papua New Guinea to buy generic drugs in bulk has worked well for many years now. Although, the GDF system is a better option for PNG, sometimes you can get significant delays due to the many processes within PNG to get the payment across, the communications with agent (UNICEF) and the multiple manufacturers from which these drugs are negotiated and bought at cheaper prices.’’

He said it was important that all PLHIV on any ARV drug combination do not miss taking their drugs, which is daily.

Mr Malabag said relevant authorities had ensured PLHIVs did not go on a “drug holiday” during this period.

He also announced that the department in collaboration with the World Health Organisation is now moving towards using once a day ARV pill which will improve drug adherence and compliance by PLHIV.

Body plans increase in health staff

BY NELLIE SETEPANO

MILNE Bay Province plans to increase its health sector manpower this year, says the Provincial Health Authority chief executive officer, Billy Naidi.

Like the rest of the country, the province is still faced with manpower shortage that is having a serious impact on the health services delivery. The province plans to increase its staff strength currently at 799 to 815 this year.

This structure is subject to the Department of Personal Management

and the Health Department’s approvals on organisational and budget ceiling, which the province desperately needs. If approved, this staff ceiling will go a long way to fill in gaps in the province’s headquarter as well as the 16 local level governments.

“The manpower crisis in health sector is having a serious impact on our service delivery and we have strategised to fast track our processes, which includes maximising our current manpower and restructuring our organisation in 2015, aligning with our provincial health authority service plan,” the CEO said.

A SETTLER in his costume to celebrate the opening of a clean and proper water supply project in one of the settlements in the nation’s capital. Picture: TARAMI LEGEI

Fraud syndicate expands

THERE is well-orchestrated crime syndicate backed by established organisations and institutions involved in fraudulent activities, says Morobe provincial police commander Kaiglo Ambane.

Mr Ambane said police intellligence revealed that the syndicate originated in Morobe and to date has spread into Southern Highlands, East Sepik and East New Britain provinces. Mr Ambane said early this month a fraudulent cheque of K500,000 drawn in East New Britain was traced back to Lae.

“We are dealing with the issue in Morobe but are limited with resources as it spreads out,” he said.

Mr Ambane is calling on the national fraud squad to step in as he predicts there will be a big problem of cash flow in the country if the syndicate is not deterred.

He said since last year, Lae police have found out that the syndicate has fraudulently acquired monies and items valued at more than K1 million.

Mr Ambane appealed to all banks and financial institutions to be vigilant.

He said police are slowly closing in on the syndicate as investigations continue.

Youths spread word of God with song, dance

MORE than 20 men and women from Sohano and Checkout in the Selau area of North Bougainville were in Arawa early this month spreading the Word of God.

During the outreach, these young boys and girls preached God’s word in the markets in Arawa town and even Buin in south Bougainville. They preached, sang and entertained at the same time but their main aim was to pass the word of God to asmany people as they can.

According to one of them, Joshua Ganah, if they do not speak of God’s word to their friends who needed more understanding on God’s word, no one else could do it.

“Which is why we as young people when we have that energy, we have to pass the word of God how we understand it to others and it might somehow somewhere help on.

“If God is giving us everything, we have to give to others what we have of him,” said Ganah.

“We have to give to the people what he made us understand about him and his words.” He said the word of God is alive and can change communities.

Polye trial continues

BY JACOB POK

At a glance

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THE election petition trial on the Kandep Open seat continued yesterday with more witnesses called to give evidences at the Waigani National Court.

The petition was filed by petitioner Alfred Manase challenging the election victory of incumbent MP and current Opposition Leader Don Polye, pictured.

Mr Manase, a lawyer by profession, was the runnerup of the Kandep Open seat in the 2012 national election.

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More information on the position can be obtained by contacting the Manager Human Resources on telephone number: 325-2144, Fax no: 325-3980 or e-mail: jobs@iccc.gov.pg

Applications close, Friday February 20, 2015

Authorized by: Dr. BILLY MANOKA (PhD) Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer

He based his grounds on alleged discrepancies which he claimed occurred during the counting of ballot boxes for the Kandep Open seat in the Enga Province shortly after the polling concluded in the area.

Mr Manase alleged that a total of five ballot boxes

TRIAL: The election petition trial on the Kandep Open seat continued yesterday at the Waigani National Court House.

PETITION: The petition was filed by petitioner Alfred Manase challenging the election victory of Opposition Leader Don Polye.

RUNNER-UP: Mr Manase, a lawyer by profession, was the runner-up of the Kandep Open seat in the 2012 national election.

CHARGES: Mr Manase based his grounds on alleged discrepancies which he claimed during the counting of the ballot boxes.

Mr Manase claimed that five ballot boxes were ommited by the Returing Officer without any valid reason.

EVIDENCE: Yesterday Mr Manase’s witnesses were called in to give evidences and where cross-examined by lawyers assisting in the petition.

were not counted during the counting and Mr Polye was declared winner ahead of the counting.

He claimed that the five boxes were omitted by the Returning Officer without any good reason, accept to stay that the boxes were ‘disputed’.

He also testified that the

counting for the Kandep open seat proceeded ahead of the schedule date with many discrepancies in the progressive results on both the manual and electronic data.

He therefore wants the court to declare the election of Mr Polye null and void. Mr Manase in a similar

election petition case, ousted Mr Polye in 2009 but Mr Polye regained his seat during a by-election.

Yesterday, Mr Manase’s witnesses were called in to give evidences and where cross-examined by the lawyers assisting in the petition. Paulus Dowa, of Paulus Dowa Lawyers represented Mr Polye while Mr Manase was represented by Ian Molloy. The trial continues this week.

Policemen to go on trial for assault

FOUR police officers in East New Britain Province who were charged with grievious bodily harm have been committed to stand trial in the National Court.

The four officers, namely Joe Ngotngot, Peter Yohrin, Jack Bemau and Benjamin Wavike, who were attached with the Rabaul police task force unit, were initially charged with two counts each of causing grievious bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

However, they were acquitted of unlawful wounding charges yesterday and the Kokopo District Court before Magistrate

George Kerker made its ruling that there was sufficient evidence to commit the four officers to stand trial for allegedly causing grievious bodily harm following an incident in April last year at Rabuana ward in the Kombiu local level government area of Rabaul district. The incident occurred last year after police were alerted by a former policeman following disturbance in the community by drunk-

en youths during a funeral service.

It was alleged that the officers were involved in bashing up a number of people at Rabuana and later at the Rabaul police station.

One of the youths was hospitalised while several others sustained injuries after they were allegedly assaulted with aluminium softball bats and fan belts by the police officers. A date is yet to be set for the trial at the national court.

There is sufficient evidence to commit the four officers....

GEORGE KERKER East New Britain

YOUTHS performing a dance at Arawa main market in Central Bougainville. Picture: JACOB IENU

HOUSING PROJECT

Trees to make way for Highlands Highway upgrade

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

MOTORISTS in Lae, Madang and the Highlands provinces are being given notice that the Highlands Highway near Lae between 3 and 5 Miles will be closed today.

Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Allan McLay said this is to allow the contractors of the four lane highway from Lae to

Nadzab and its sub-contractors to fell trees to allow the erection of new power pylons.

The new pylons will be erected for PNG Power to transfer existing lines because the old pylons are in the way of the new developments. The reconstruction and extension is being done by China Railway International.

Project engineer Liew Boon Tit stated in an email to relevant authorities, including Lae Chamber of Commerce and its members, that the work will be carried out between 9am and 4pm to avoid peak traffic.

Mr Boon Tit also stated that the felling of one tree is estimated to take up to 30 minutes and the road won’t be fully closed but will be

LOs seek out-of-court settlement

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE landowner group which was recently awarded a section 5 notice to claim K15 billion from two major companies operating in West New Britain Province say they are ready to negotiate for an out-of-court settlement.

Yesterday, the secretary of Lamalibuko integrated land group Bonny Kulu and chairman Thaddeus Gele said that the K15 billion that they have been awarded under the section 5 claim was from the two developers and not the State.

Both warned the developers that “enough was enough” and advised they were ready to demand their claims through an out of court settlement if agreed by the developers.

They said that they would negotiate for the takeover of transport, milling and production programs from the two companies involved if all went well.

The leaders spoke after the office of the State Solicitor responded favourably to section 5 notice sought late last year by the company.

Last week, acting State Solicitor General Faith Barton-Keen may have answered the prayers of the Lamalibuko incorporated land group from West New Britain who had fought for 20 years to claim their land back from the State and

Ogio’s officer resigns to contest B’ville poll

THE Governor-General’s private secretary Patrick Leslie has resigned to contest the 2015 presidential election in Bougainville which is five months away. His resignation takes effect on March 13, consistent with Section 20.15 of the Public (Management) Act under the present circumstances. While his resignation has been effected by GovernorGeneral Sir Michael Ogio, the position of the official secretary to the Government House, which has been advertised last year, is yet to be finalised. Tipo Vuatha is the official secretary of the Government House. His position was advertised late last year and still under the appointment process.

At a glance

LAND ISSUE: A landowner group from WNB province have been awarded a Section 5 Notice to claim K15b from two major companies operating on customary land. They are ready to negotiate with the developers they (developers) agreed to it.

LAND USE: The land is being used for mutlibillion kina logging and oil palm projects.

the developer. She had responded favourably to their letter dated September 24, 2014.

This is portion 77 and Malilimi TRP which is being used for multibillion kina logging and oil palm projects.

Lawyer representing the group, Abraham Kumbari of Kumbari lawyers, and the landowners told the media in Port Moresby that on November 15, 2010, they filed a section 15 application with the Land Title Commission seeking the State to invoke its powers under Section 15 and declare Portion 78 (purported) customary land but they became procrastinated after the passing of then Commissioner Pius Kingal.

The hearing became protracted until it was heard in Kimbe in August 2014.

closed at intervals to allow for the felling. He said the tree cutting contractor estimates that a maximum of six trees on right hand side of the road leading out of Lae will be removed.

He said the inner road from the Three Mile police station and passing through residential areas will be used as bypass for diverting traf-

fic from the Highway. “It is estimated that most vehicles will be able to traverse the bypass except for container trucks which may have to use the time slots as explained,” he said.

“I apologise for this short notice but there are no perfect solutions and some short-term pains will have to be borne for long-term gains,” he said.

Mr Leslie just returned from a two-month trip to Bougainville, where Sir Michael and Lady Ogio were holidaying. From there, Mr Leslie told the Post-Courier that his interest to contest the Bougainville elections intensified and eventually resulted in his resignation a week after returning to Port Moresby for duty. Mr Leslie, who has worked for public service industry for more than 30 years will contest the Lato constituency.

A NEW housing project at Nine Mile just outside Port Moresby slowly taking shape. This is one of the many housing development projects all over Port Moresby. Picture: TARAMI LEGEI

BAN BROUGHT DEATHS

W E PAPUANS have never experienced such killings as has happened at Hanuabada village. It is when Governor Powes Parkop introduce the buai ban in NCD that’s when we Papuans have been killed indiscriminately. We are now appealing to Governor Parkop to:

LIFT the buai ban; INTRODUCE the Vagrancy Act; DO away with reservists; STOP Street vendors; and BUILD Central city now. We Papuans are also appealing to all our sitting members to stand true and fi ght for our rights. Enough is enough.

Papuan concern

SEND KILLERS TO JAIL

W HAT has gone into the heads of policemen? It is disgusting for them to continuously kill their own people regardless of instructions coming f rom their superiors. What a shame in deed! And to those Members of Parliament who appear in the news boasting about buying high powered fi re arms for police, the blood of police’s victims are in your hands. PNG is not at war, for goodness sake. I think it is time PNG signs up with UN to engage our police of fi cers to serve in places like Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq so that they appreciate the difference between good and bad situations and learn to control their itchy fi ngers. Those found guilty should be terminated and sent to jail as common criminals.

My condolences and commiserat ions to the families of the two latest v ictims of police brain explosions and the one who is recovering at the hospital. The colour of the police uniform has now become a sign of death in PNG.

PNG police has become the biggest killer of their people within the Paci fi c police community. It is a shame!

Sad SS Waigani, NCD

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

FOR many years now police brutality against the citizens of PNG has triggered negative consequences.

Not only to the people of this country but also to the government. The government has spent a lot of money on claims against the State. For example, last week's Hanuabada incident, the Government promised to pay K22m to compensate the two deaths. For many years, the Government spent a lot on such preventable expenses.

This money could be put into hospitals and schools to benefit all of us including the trigger happy policemen and their families. Now on the other hand, what will happen to those who lost their

loved ones? They will be the most to suffer for the rest of their lives. Money will never replace human life.

It is only a temporary pain killer, but the loss will haunt the relatives for the rest of their lives.

Looking at the history of police brutality, for example in Bougainville, it was police brutality that caused it to escalate into civil war that cost thousands of lives of both Bougainvilleans and non-Bougainvillians (including the military).

Many of us paid a heavy price as a result and we Papua New Guineans can't suffer like that at the hands of trigger-happy police. There must be an end to it. To our police force, it is now time

for you to take a stock of your books of reference and make amendments, especially your rules of engagement manual. I think the best option is to remove all weapons and issue police batons, water canons, tear gase and bullet prove shields for your own protection during civil riots and normal law and order situations.

Over to you police hierarchy to implement a strategy to protect the people, the most precious assets PNG has.

Masen Iningi Murray Barracks

our lady of the sacred heart

WRITE TO US Text us on 208

Rural people are big losers

Letter of the day

THERE is much publicity in the media about the rapid growth of Port Moresby and Lae city respectively.

Unlike other centres in the country, Port Moresby has been receiving a huge slice of the National Government’s budget, using the Pacific Games like a shield to hide from their unfair distribution of goods and services.

Most, if not, all of our politicians call Port Moresby their home, their children are educated in the city and treated at fully facilitated hospitals in the city.

I was moved when I viewed the program titled “Yu Ting Olsem Wanem?” on EMTV about the inland coastal people of Madang who have been struggling to seek medical attention.

They have to walk for hours, cross fast flowing rivers, climb steep mountains until they reach one of the run-down aid posts with least medical supplies.

Many suffer and die on the way with curable diseases and our poor mothers are giving birth on the way. Children have to walk

long distances to go to school, but many of them give up while few manage through. Francis Awesa and his secretary David Werah can boast about the freeways, bypass, fly-over bridges or concrete roads in Port Moresby and Lae cities. But all roads into the interior parts of the Highlands and inland coastal areas are collapsing and need to be rehabilitated and upgraded.

Some of our people are living in the middle of the jungle and are isolated from the entire world. It is not their fault. Our successive governments’ failure in the distribution of the country’s wealth, is to blame.

Is it fair for our rural people to behave more like camels when carrying food, medical supplies, school or building materials and walk the distant for hours with the load?

If huge amounts like K263.5 million can be allocated for urban and town roads alone, which the Minister has announced during the launching of the Department of Works and Implementation plan for 2015, what plan does he have for the bulk of our rural population for their roads and bridges?

Text us on 208

WHY BUY OUR GAS

temporary solution.

What plans do the health authorities have for the ever deteriorating health facilities in all rural and remote areas in the country? People are dying of curable diseases due to not having proper medical supplies and equipment and not enough medical officers. I do acknowledge government’s commitment in introducing free medical and health services. But the question is: do majority of our rural people access and enjoy the privileges like those in urban centres? Government’s plan to introduce the Vagrancy Act in urban centres like Port Moresby and Lae will not help curb increasing illegal squatter settlements unless Government provides vital basic services needed in the rural and remote areas of our country. Our government of the people, for the people and by the people must be fair and equal to all corners of Papua New Guinea in terms of goods and service delivery.

Money schemes back with their tricks

I WOULD like to add to “Conned

Once” from Hohola NCD who expressed his views on the money scam operations in Port Moresby in the Post-Courier , Monday, January 26.

It is true that money scam is back and Boroko seem to be the most convenient place for them to meet.

Every day people who have invested in these schemes congre-

10 years ago

gate at the back of Boroko Post Office, Amini or Apex Park to hold meetings assuring themselves of receiving hefty payouts from their investments in two weeks’ time.

The two weeks turns into months and into years and still these conned people are still saying we will receive the payouts in two weeks time.

While wondering at the back of Boroko Post Office, I overhead a

member of one of the scam group telling others that two containers of money had arrived and are docked at Motukea Port awaiting the clearance from the Bank of PNG. It would be best also if all these scam leaders are rounded up by police and locked up at Bomana.

PNG Elite via email

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill said during an interview on EMTV’s PNG Resources program on January 22, 2015 that his Government is talking with ExxonMobil to offtake some gas from the PNG LNG Project to generate electricity to power up Port Moresby, Hela and Southern Highland Provinces.

The most important point that our Prime Minister mentioned was that — “we are now working hard to negotiate for a cheap price of gas in order to transfer the cost bene fi ts to the end users in PNG.

Prime Minister, you are spot-on in smartly addressing a showstopper issue as far as domestic gas development and utilisation is concerned.

Lawyers can argue but the fact is that under the present petroleum regime, it is unfortunate that PNG does not “own” any gas in a discovered fi eld or in a project.

If we own the gas then why do we have to ask or beg from an investor who is a mere licensee?

The woes associated with the ownership issue add further complications and frustrations when dealing with the price of gas, particularly when dealing with domestic gas development.

PNG is not fully free and mature when we are told by foreigners in our own territory to buy our own gas at an international price. This is an economic development hurdle. Natural gas is a versatile energy source and we have it in abundance here at home in PNG. We need gas to power our expanding economy and PM O’Neill is addressing the issue with vision and tenacity.

PNG needs her own rich indigenous natural gas as a reliable fuel source to propel strong economic growth. The push for cheap gas to be made available for domestic purposes by the PNG LNG Project is a brilliant start but it should be a

The long term solution is for PNG to use some of her own gas at no cost to power the national economy through industrialisation and through lighting up every village, town and city in PNG so economic development and energy security issues are managed directly.

K.Koya via email.

GET BACK GARY LO!

WHO is Gary Lo? Mr Lo you have just started playing professional football and have a long way yet to prove to Papua New Guinea and the International football fraternity your capabilities as a professional footballer. Yet you saw fi t to leave PNG shores to tell the world you can play football. However, your decisions proved a disaster and has hindered your progress and professional football career. If you had remained with PNG Hunters, your chances of making it to the NRL professional football league competition would have been prospective. Now you can see for yourself the kind of treatment you are getting from PNG football league community, it’s regrettable and not good for you.

Papua New Guineans have a bad attitude in sports, whenever someone gets an opportunity to expose himself or herself in sports, the next thing he or she does is go to the extent of showing off their achievements. The next thing you know is that the young sports man or woman have been suspended or went beserk. Gary Lo is a PNG sports ambassador. You need patience and commitment in order to achieve the maximum outcomes in your sporting career. Learn from your mistake and get back!

Grassruts League Sapota

PAPUA New Guinean investors have been warned that they should be aware of people selling and buying shares and who are posing as share agents. PC, Jan 7, 2005

I extend the nation’s sympathies to the families of the young men who were killed on Friday.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill expressing regret and sadness at the police killings at Hanuabada village last Friday.

Daniel Pokoraija Tumbiari Piripu village, Tari

Better roads for rural areas

A CONCERN has been raised for a better road network to link schools located in remote areas of Morobe Province.

Head teacher of Tawa Primary School in the Menyamya district, Peter Hiyatai said this in light of the unavailability of a road linking the school and the nearest government station of Aseki.

Mr Hiyatai said the remote area serves more than a total population of 12,000 people who struggle everyday to carry their goods and cargos from Aseki to Tawa.

He said villagers are also struggling to bring their fresh vegetables and cash crops to Aseki station then transported to Lae.

Mr Hiyatai said Tawa Secondary School is a leading school in the district in terms of its infrastructure and students’ academic performance.

But there is no road into the area. This made it very difficult for the school to bring in new school materials, he said.

“The school is located on the border of Gulf and Morobe Province and is isolated from all economic developments, therefore, we would like to see our MP make efforts to improve these problem as an urgent need and help his people,”

Mr Hiyatai said.

He said the only means of transportation is by air.

Embassies to increase

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE Government says foreign missions in Papua New Guinea will increase to about 100 by 2018.

There are currently 32 embassies and consulates in PNG.

As PNG prepares to host the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, six of its members are planning to join the other 15 to establish a permanent presence

At a glance

INCREASE: There are currently 32 embassies and consulates in Papua New Guinea, foreign missions are likely to increase to about 100 by 2018.

PROSPECTS: Russia, Peru, Mexico, Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam are in talks with the Government to set up their foreign missions in Port Moresby.

in PNG. APEC members which have missions here are Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,

Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States of America. Russia, Peru, Mexico,

Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam are in talks with the Government to set up their foreign missions in Port Moresby.

Foreign Affairs and the APEC officials said yesterday that PNG was now regarded as a fast growing economy and it was not surprising that it was being courted by other top nations in the field of oil and gas, mining and other major economic developments.

“2014 has been a landmark

SIRIROI SINGSING

STOCKTAKE

This is to inform our Valued customers that TAUBMANS TRADE CENTRES

In Waigani, Lae, Kokopo and Mt Hagen

Will be closed for stocktake on Saturday, 31st January, 2015

Normal business will resume on Monday, 02nd February 2015.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

year for the resource sector in PNG. “After decades of steady production decline, the nation’s oil and gas sector received a tremendous boost from completion and commissioning of the PNG LNG Project built and operated by ExxonMobil on behalf of the joint venture partners and the State.

“That’s why we will see a boom in economy and a boost or increase in foreign presence here,” one government official said.

Gender issues not solved NGO seeks support to send children to school

A LOT has been said and written about gender issues in the country but nothing tangible has been done to solve the issue affecting women, says a women leader.

President of the Wain Women’s Association in Morobe Province, Zarangi Ken, said most women in the rural areas are still marginalised by their male counterparts and have been tarnished and kept in silence.

“We are aware of the issue but we not conscious of what it really is,” she said.

She said many women in the remote areas are struggling to earn a living for their families while women in the urban areas use the issue to gain political advantage and money.

Mrs Ken said women everywhere in PNG face a lot of problems.

The difference, however, is that women in rural areas have their hurdles doubled by lack of basic government services such as road linkages to schools and hospitals, as well as lack of awareness on gender issues.

THE school year begins next week, but a non-government organisation that sends street children to school has not been able to get sponsors for all of its children.

Life PNG Care (LPC) has enrolled 40 street children in different schools in the city, an increase of 23 from last year’s 17. The children aged between six and 19 are in elementary to secondary schools.

LPC founder Collin Pake said the LPC has a program called strongim pikinini under which these children

are being cared for. He said letters had been sent to various business houses since last November for help for these unfortunate children but have not been able to get positive response from most of them.

The two that have responded are Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited with K2000 and another K2000 was given by AkzoNobel PNG Limited.

Mr Pake said due to lack of funding, they were unable to buy everyone uniforms. Although the Government pays school fees, it is a

must for children to pay for project fees. Children are also required to wear uniforms, including proper school shoes to school. Many schools send children home for not wearing uniforms. They also have to have school bags and stationery.

“We are expecting to raise K66,000 for all 40 kids to go to school,’’ Mr Pake said.

“If we raise K30,000 this will get the children to go to school but will not cater for lunch and bus fare. It will be difficult also because we don’t have a vehicle.”

Gas committee ready for hearings

THE Independent Issue Committee on the PNG LNG project will be conducting hearing into landowner issues and grievances in Tari in February, chairman Joseph Gabut said.

The committee is an administrative body established by the government to do an independent assessment and hear grievances by way of submissions relating to issues in relations to the PNG LNG

project and other related matters.

The committee consisted of experts and former senior bueaucats led by Gabut as the chairman, and his three members and they are former secretary for the department of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Pepson, a trained economist, Nelson Yano, an expreinced person in the construction and infrastructure sectors and Benias Peri, a private

lawyer. Mr Gabut said the independent issues committee is a body to provide independent hearing and receive submissions from stakeholders in the PNG LNG project inclduing other functions such as , reviews into all payments made to landowners under the PNG LNG project, hear grievances from landowners on any LNG issues, receive suggestions and recommendations.

SIRIROI, a traditional dancing, is very popular in the Kokoda area of Kieta District in Central Bougainville. Its lyrics are sung in quit a unique way – the songs starts from the ending to the start and then back again. The mothers pictured from Koromira.

Picture: ISHMAEL PALIPAL

Fiji opens new chancery

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

AS a testament to strengthening bilateral relations and commitment to Papua New Guinea, the Fiji High Commission has opened its chancery office in Hohola, Moresby Northeast, yesterday.

Fiji has had a high commission office in PNG for the past 21 years but with the opening of the new office, it could now show a more visible and bold presence in the country.

Fiji’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kabuabola said it was a pleasure for him to be back for the official opening of the Fiji High Commission headed by the High Commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca.

“The opening of the Fijian Chancery today is a testament of our commitment to work and the relationship with PNG,” Mr Kabuabola, who was a former envoy to PNG, said.

“Furthermore with the deployment of our Trade Commissioner, it is a reflection that our economic and bilateral relations with PNG has strengthened on many levels.”

Mr Kabuabola acknowledged and thanked CJ Patel and Pactrade for their commitment in allowing the High

Commission to display the signage at the building which will “fondly be known as Fiji Haus”.

Being the two larger Pacific countries working together, both country’s engagement at the political level is growing.

“With PNG’s strong influence in the MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group), it is the right time to restrategise and take our economic relationship to a new level.

“As our trade and investment relationship continues to grow, our Trade Commissioner to PNG will prominently focus on trade and investments from this office,” Mr Kabuabola said.

The Minister said exports from Fiji to PNG and vice versa have grown at a similar rate however there are many opportunities for PNG to expand their exports into Fiji.

There are more than 20 Fijian companies operating in PNG with some significant investments made by PNG into Fiji.

“PNG is a resource rich nation and more Fijians are interested in doing business and investing here.

“To date, there are approximately 550 registered Fijian professionals engaged in PNG employment sector.

THE new Fijian chancery building at Hohola in the nation’s capital.

Housing woes can affect performance

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

HOUSING is a major problem for many public servants in the country yet they are expected to perform to the best of their ability to meet the demands of their vocation.

Even if accommodation is provided but the conditions are poor, Papua New Guineans still try to make the most of the situation because they cannot afford the rent elsewhere.

The housing allowances offered by some employers hardly meet the high costs of rentals for many people working in both the private and public sectors, so most end up renting small rooms in settlements.

One such example of workers in the public sector who are living in poor housing conditions but are expected to perform their duties diligently are the police officers and their families.

The National Capital District Metropolitan Commander Andy Bawa said many of his officers

in the nation’s capital live in poor conditions yet they risk their lives to perform their duties.

“Housing in NCD and Papua New Guinea is a big problem,” Mr Bawa said.

“If you go around the police barracks in NCD, you will see that it is a big problem.

“Many of our police officers live in the settlements or with wantoks and we expect our police men and women to work professionally but you can understand the situation and difficulty they face when having to live in such conditions.”

Many police barracks in Port Moresby are in dire need of renovations, and the proper authorities should look into the situation to provide police officers better living conditions.

“When police officers are well looked after, when they sleep in good houses, good accommodation, it encourages them, it brings meaning to them to deliver and do their jobs professionally,” Mr Bawa said.

TENDER SALE

One dead, one injured in rural gun attack

ONE person is dead and another one is fighting for his life at the Port Moresby General Hospital after armed men open fired on them as they slept in Bereina yesterday morning.

Central police commander

At a glance

ISSUE : A shoot-out at Bereina district leaves one dead and one with bullet wounds is fighting for his life at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

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.

Laimo Asi said the attack happened between 2am and 3am when five men drove to a home at Bereina and started shooting at the occupants who were asleep.

He said that one man died

VICTIMS: The victims are Lucas Wani, 25, a father of three children from Baukeke village in Bereina district and the other recovering at the hospital is the son of a senior police officer from the area.

instantly while another suffered serious injuries to his body was taken to the Port Moresby General Hospital

on the same day where he is recovering from the bullet wounds. The deceased has been identified as Lucas

Wani, 25, a father of three children from Baukeke village in Bereina district. The other victim who is recovering at the hospital has been identified as the son of a senior police officer from the area. Chief Inspector Asi expressed anger at the attack on innocent lives, adding that police were investigating. He is also calling on the public to forward with any information that can assist the investigation.

District office helps remote Rigo villagers

THESE disadvantaged people living in remote communities are faced with problems of not having access to basic living essentials in life.

This was the case for people of Dirinomu, in Rigo Inland of Central Province.

Fourteen families consisting widows, widowers, disabled and orphans received roofing irons and solar panels from Rigo MP’s office to build their new houses.

The remote Rigo village which can be reached only through Kempwelsh River by travelling on dinghies, were blessed by the local member

through the district services improvement funds.

The 14 families received 16 roofing irons each and solar panels to light up their houses in Dirinomu village.

Dirinomu Ward Councillor, Jeff Hugena, came up with the idea of distributing the roofing irons and solar panels to the disadvantaged individuals in the community as a first phase of distributing the materials.

Councilor Hugena, thanked the Member for Rigo and Justice General Minister Ano Pala, for providing basic daily needs for the people of

Rigo, particularly Dirinomu village.

Minister Pala’s first secretary, Basil Vere, was on hand to deliver the equipments to the villagers. Dirinomu villagers, were told by Secretary Vere, Minister Pala, will be delivering set of roofing irons and solar panels to rest of the villagers.

It has been a tough life for the Dirinomu people who don’t have any road links due to continues flooding of Kempwelsh River and have suffered greatly.

Villagers are currently

using dinghies to ferry their cargoes from Kempwelsh River to their village after doing business in Port Moresby or Kwikila station. However, Minister Pala’s office has made a commitment to do up a road stretching from Boregaina’s Yogobada, linking Kareko, Gaunomu and Dirinomu villages.

Mr Pala’s first secretary Basil Vere stated that Boregaina to Dirinomu road network was supposed to be constructed a few years back, but there were some land ownership issues which had become an impediment.

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

THE run-down housing quarter at Badili Police Station is just an example of the type of living conditions police officers

and

their

families have to live in.

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University student laid to rest

BY PEARSON KOLO

SHE was very young, got married to a young professional from her province, and looked ahead for a life and future.

Her family, who had received bride price from their daughter’s husband, was happy for her life.

But then, the horrible and unthinkable happened to Lenneth Rus, aged 26 from the Moge Komkui tribe of Western Highlands Province.

Her husband, who is a lecturer at the Divine Word University in Madang Province, beat her to death inside their house at the university campus on the 12th of January 2015.

Why her husband killed her in that manner is only known by late Lenneth and her husband, who is now in police custody as the main suspect in her killing.

While the husband, identified as Sauel Rot is in police custody, the family and relatives of late Lenneth buried her in their village last week.

And what they said during

Oil, Gas Act ‘flaws’ disputed

BY JEFFREY ELAPA

THE flaws in the Oil and Gas Act of 1992 as claimed by resource activist and Tuguba landowner, Simon Ekenda, is a personal view, an industry specialist says.

Former secretary of the Department of Petroleum and Energy and chairman of Independent Issue Committee on the PNG LNG project, Joseph Gabut, said Ekanda’s views are his own and not of the Government’s as there are no flaws in relation to the country’s petroleum regime.

Mr Gabut who heads the newly created Independent Issue Committee (IIC), responded to an article by Mr Ekanda claiming flaws in the Oil and Gas Act, as well as naming the Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, Secretary of the Department of Petroleum and Energy, Randel Rimua, and himself as the former secretary as being incompetent for failing to provide sound advice to the Government in relations to resource ownership. Meanwhile, Mr Gabut said as advisors of the Government, they have done their job to provide necessary advice but it is the Government who decides and not them.

He said his advice to the Government on a personal note in regard to the petroleum regime is

to switch from royalties/tax system to a production sharing contract system over the years, but the Government in its wisdom decided to retain the royalty/tax system.

Mr Gabut said Mr Ekanda was involved in a proposal in which the late Ambassador Peter Donigi was instrumental and incorporated a draft legislation but was not endorsed and is on foot.

He said Mr Ekanda took the matter to court and is now before the court.

Mr Gabut said before his appointment in 2014, Mr Ekanda asked him to mediate on behalf of him and the state lawyers so the state can settle his cost and also pay him some benefits from the LNG project.

He said he refused to facilitate it for Mr Ekanda as there would be conflict of interest because he was an advisor to the Minister at that time.

However, he said Mr Ekanda can now make his submission to the committee on any difficulty he has with the PNG LNG project and its benefits to the IIC.

“His case is against the State on the gas agreement so he can make his submission to IIC – a body sanctioned by the State to look into such matters and other LNG matters,” Mr Gabut said.

her funeral service is something many tribes, communities and societies in Papua New Guinea have never said or done before.

“We will not demand any compensation or do anything in relation to the death of late Lenneth Rus,” Komkui councillors Jacob Wari and Paul Rumints said.

“We want the law to take its course and deal with the husband who is the prime suspect in the murder of our daughter.”

The leaders of Komkui said the Nenga tribe where the husband comes from did not discuss or plan to kill Lenneth and asked her husband to beat her to death.

“That is why we will not demand any form of compensation or or ask the husband and his people to do anything with the death of our daughter,” Mr Wari stressed.

The relatives of Lenneth said their daughter had a promising life and future but all that is now lost with the hopes and dreams of their families and relatives scatted.

According to her father, she was doing her final year mas-

PUBLIC NOTICE

ters program at the university after she was sponsored by her employee, the Madang Provincial Government.

She was living with her husband at the campus and was doing her studies. Her relatives and family members said they have no idea why the husband beat her to death and they also do not know what she did to be killed in that manner.

Lenneth’s family and relatives said during the funeral that many of their children are educated and are working or in schools and for them to lose an elite in such a way is heartbreaking, frustrating and very hard to digest the reason of such death.

“We want the law to take its course because this is an isolated case where the husband of our daughter had killed her inside their family home,” Mr Wapi and Rumints added.

Lenneth’s body was laid to rest in her Komkui village late week.

And the leaders of Komkui called on other tribes and communities to follow their example and to allow the law in the country to deal with such issues.

British American Tobacco PNG Ltd

Fraudulent Activities and Product Tampering by Criminals

British American Tobacco PNG (BAT PNG) Limited would like to take this opportunity to issue a warning to any persons purchasing our legitimate products in the market at the moment.

We have reason to believe that organized criminal gangs are fraudulently tampering with BAT PNG’s legitimate tobacco products, specifically packets of cigarettes. Those involved in the crimes are removing the legitimate BAT PNG tobacco products from the containers, replacing the tobacco products with cardboard filler, where the tobacco products were prior to being removed, and then offering the tobacco packets for sale at retail outlets to unsuspecting retailers and consumers. In doing so, they are defrauding the consumers of the product they believe they are purchasing for their own gain illegally. This is a criminal act and will have penalties for those found to be committing, or participating in, the fraud against PNG tobacco consumers.

Customers who are the victim of this scam are advised to report this matter to police immediately. If they come across such activities BAT PNG recommends that as a precaution, consumers be vigilant when they are buying their tobacco products and immediately check the packaging at the time of purchase, in store, to avoid falling victim to these illegal and fraudulent substituted products.

British American Tobacco PNG Limited has a world class manufacturing plant based in Madang. The plant has stringent quality control processes and security systems that alleviate this type of product tampering at a factory level. Our warehousing and secondary supply chain controls add another layer of confidence that this is unlikely an internally occurring practice.

Once again, BAT PNG Customers are advised to take precautions when buying tobacco products in their outlets by opening purchased tobacco products in store at the time of purchase, and if fraudulent packs are discovered by consumers, we urge you to report them to the police immediately.

For any queries please contact the following persons at our Port Moresby Head Office:

Corporate Affairs Manager

Landline: 320 1416

Email: Albert_Veratau@bat.com

National Security Manager

Landline: 320 1416

Email: Andrew_Knight@bat.com

RELATIVES pay their last respects before burying Lenneth at her village in Western HIghlands

Firm donates stationery to Yombong village

BY ABARHAM AVEDIBA

RURAL areas either lack or experience delays in stationary supplies reaching their elementary and primary schools and these contribute to the unpleasant learning environment in schools.

Social Impact Consultancy managing director Meredith Tutumang revealed this during the opening of two new classrooms at Yombong village in the Finschhaffen District of Morobe Province.

“Education is the key towards assisting a child to choose a career path to fend for themselves in the future.

“Its through such preschools that children are able to learn their basic numbers and alphabets.

“We’ve seen that a community member has made a great effort in having the new classroom erected so we are pleased to assist with the stationary supplies,” Ms Tutumang said.

Remote village gets new pre school

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

YOMBONG village in the remote Finschhaffen District of Morobe Province opened its first pre-school in a small ceremony held last Friday.

Project initiator Gesa Samuel said pre-schoolers in the village have had to travel for an hour and half to attend classes in the neighbouring Kenong village.

“I saw that there was a great need for a decent and more modern classroom to be built for the children because the small children walk long distances to attend school. For this reason I used the little funds that I gathered over the years to purchase materials to begin the classroom construction in 2012,” Mr Samuel said. Finschafen District preschool coordinator Baya Basanu expressed similar sentiments.

Teachers needed in remote schools

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

THERE is still a great need for more teachers to be sent to remote schools to assist with the existing teaching staff, says an educationist.

Kenong and Sopa valley primary schools in the Finschhafen District of Morobe Province are among a number of remote schools in the country that experience such issues.

Kenong primary school principal Tom Keac told the Post-Courier his school has only seven teachers that look after the entire school.

“Such a number is not enough to cater for the huge number of students that come in from seven other neighbouring villages.

“We occasionally have teachers who fall sick at times or they have to attend to immediate family matters and this is when students miss out on having lessons of the day being taught to them,” Mr Keac said.

He stressed that the conditions of the classrooms is also an issue that they’ve had to deal with for many years.

The National Government previously provided remote schools such as Kenong primary with rehabilitation education support infrastructure (RESI) funds.

However, part of these funds reached the school while the District Administration held onto the rest.

Mr Keac further stated that the

At a glance

ISSUE: A great need for more teachers to be sent to remote schools.

CLASSROOMS: Most of the classrooms are semi- permanent.

SCHOOLS AFFECTED: Kenong and Sopa valley primary schools.

DISTRICT: In the Finschhafen District of Morobe Province.

TOM KEAC: Kenong primary school principal.

condition of the classrooms is also another issue that has contributed to the unpleasant learning environment in the school. “We have instances where most of our classrooms are semi-permanent.

“The roofs and walls of most of our classrooms are made from bush materials so it’s not able to withstand harsh weather,” Mr Keac added.

He appealed to the provincial government to look into the issue and attend to it immediately.

Despite delays in sufficient funds and school supplies reaching the remote schools, the majority of the schools continue to educate children, and the issues continue to be ignored.

As a result of such experiences, remote primary and pre-schools are currently turning to alternative interventions to deal with issues, to continue providing education service to the rural communities.

SOCIAL Impact Consultancy managing director Meredith Tutumang (left) shaking hands with Yombong Pre-School funder Gesa Samuel.

Survivors return home

BY NICOLE JOANNES

ALL 11 survivors of the Manus-Madang boat mishap have safely returned home with their airfares paid for by the National Disaster and Emergency Centre in Port Moresby. They were rescued by the West New Britain Disaster and Emergency Response Centre on January 17 after being adrift in the open sea for 12 days.

The survivors had left Manus Province on December 29 in the morning but encountered bad weather around the waters of Madang, thus, they ran out of petrol and drifted out to the open sea.

Nine of the survivors were rescued at Lolobau Island off the coast of Bialla while two of them – the boat operator and the crew, were rescued and looked after by Lama villagers on Witu Island.

BY MICHAEL WARTOVO

THE Topaiyo Landowner Association from the west coast of Namatanai in New Ireland Province continues to trace descendents of past clan members who had migrated to East New Britain Province more than 200 years ago.

The 22 chiefs from the Konoagil local level government area in the west coast Namatanai were in East New Britain recently to meet up with sub-clan members. A clan meeting was held over the weekend at Kabakada in Rabaul and was attended by the 22 chiefs along with hundreds of people from the 22 sub-clans. The association owns a portion of land starting from Kadas to the Labom area of West Coast of Namatanai.

This area will be subjected to major developments that will take place this year.

The chairman of Topaiyo Holdings Limited, Clement Lokor, said the business arm of the association will be using a large portion of the land for logging as well as balsa and galip nut farming projects.

MOTOR VEHICLE TENDER SALE TENDER NO. FAD 0-1/2015

The National Development Bank Limited invite tenders for the purchase of the below motor vehicles on an "AS IS WHERE IS BASIS".

To inspect the vehicles and collect tender forms please contact the following:

Association continues to trace descendants Payment overdue for Team NIP

BY FRANKIY KAPIN

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan has been urged to respond to the non-payment of PMV fleets transporting Team New Ireland Province (NIP) at last year’s PNG Games in Lae.

The PMV operator is calling on Sir Julius to respond accordingly and assist in paying the K8000 bill owed by Team New Ireland for the usage of three busses owned by Gau Yawel from Markham, Morobe Province.

Mr Yawel said his 30-seater PMV bus was engaged by the management of Team NIP for transportation for two-weeks of the games period from November 16-30, 2014. He said during the two weeks, they were underpaid with a mere K250 despite an agreement with the management for a flat rate of K500 each day.

“For the rest of the two weeks, we forked fuel money out from our own pockets as the management kept on giving promises to make payments the next day,” the bus owner said.

Mr Yawel said the agreed charge for the two weeks was K7000, the extra K1000 is for the usage of two of his three-tonne trucks requested by stranded members of the team

over the extended two weeks until departure of the full contingent.

Shalom Yawel, who assist’s his father in running the PMV business along the Wau-Bulolo highway for the last 11 years, said the extra K1000 is for the extended two weeks of service by the stranded members.

He said promises by the CEO of Team NIP, Bill Peruan, to settle the payment first thing once he reaches Kavieng, has only been excuses and no payment has been made yet.

Mr Peruan, who is also the CEO of Public Order in the New Ireland Provincial Administration, when contacted on Monday said the cheques are ready and should have been deposited yesterday.

However, Shalom said this is not the first time Mr Peruan has told him that payment had been deposited. He said during the festive period last year (2014), Mr Peruan had told him the same thing only to find that no money had been deposited.

Shalom said he had tried contacting the Manager of Team NIP Joe Lumaris without any luck.

Mr Lumaris admitted that, Team NIP owes the service provider but the government process delayed payment.

A non - refundable fee of K150.00 per tender will apply and this must be paid when collecting the tender form. Proof of finance to complete the purchase is required and all bids must be sealed. Faxed bids will be disqualified.

The tender will close on 4:00pm Friday 06, February 2015. Bids must be clearly marked Tender NO. FAD 01/2015 and addressed to:

The Chairman

TENDER COMMITTEE

National Developmenet Bank PO Box 686, WAIGANI

National Capital District

Bids may either be lodged with the respective branch or in the tender box located at the Property & Safety Department NDB Head Office building Level 1, Waigani.

THE BANK IS NOT OBLIGED TO ACCEPT THE HIGHEST OR ANY OTHER OFFER.

MEMBERS of the Topaiyo Clan gathered in East New Britain Province recently.

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Weapons disposal not an issue

By ROMULUS MASIU

THE Bougainville veterans have maintained that weapons disposal is not an issue anymore given that Bougainville’s referendum is guaranteed in the national constitution.

They said it is a waste of time to talk about weapons disposal and that should not be used as an excuse or condition for the region’s referendum.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government and the people have set its focus for the referendum at 2016.

The veterans said the weapons pillar has a double entrenchment in the Bougainville Peace Agreement and that all parties have a commitment to dispose weapons for Bougainville to achieve independence.

However, that shouldn’t be the condition for referendum as numerous elections including the Autonomous Bougainville Government elections and the national elections there was not a single incident concerning weapons compared to other centres.

While the arms disposal is part of law and order and should be conditioned and the weapons disposal be addressed as arms control.

The veterans also called for the weapons pillar in

School girl dies in hit and run

BY SEBASTIAN HAKALITS

A NINE-year-old girl from Talasea in West New Britain Province is dead after being hit by a speeding vehicle at Sorom village within the Kokopau/Arawa highway on Saturday.

At a glance

WEAPONS DISPOSAL:

The Bougainville Veterans have maintained that weapons disposal is not an issue anymore given that Bougainville’s Referendum is guaranteed in the national constitution.

WASTE OF TIME: They said it is a waste of time to talk about weapons disposal and that should not be used as an excuse or condition for the region’s referendum.

the Bougainville Peace Agreement to be removed and suggested that the word disposal be replaced with the words “weapons control.”

Also the veterans suggested that May 17 Remembrance Day monuments promised by the President John Momis at the recent celebrations in Arawa should be become a reality.

There are many weapons still in the hands of ex-combatants and even individuals throughout Bougainville but to date these weapons posed no threats and risk to the general population of Bougainville and visitors alike as these weapons are controlled by their owners and in safe hands.

RUBBISH POSSES THREAT

THE National Agriculture and Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) offi cer in Buka, Moses Hilu said foreign and local food products dumped in the sea have always found their way to the shorelines. He has raised the concern after visiting one of the atolls in Bougainville and seen much rubbish, which he said may have been thrown overboard by foreign vessels that illegally fish in and around Bougainville waters. Rubbish dumping in the sea poses environmental damage to our shorelines and it can harm or kill our fish as seen in this picture, he said. Picture: SEBASTIAN

HAKALITS

According to police reports, the deceased, identified as Lenty Mondo from Oupan village in Talasea was on holidays with his uncle, who is married to a Bougainvillean.

The deceased was walking with his parents and relatives along the road after a church service when she was hit by the speeding vehicle from the back and dragged about 20 metres.

The vehicle continued on without attempting to save the little girl. She died instantly from the hit.

She was rushed to the Buka General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Disgruntled relatives retaliated by chasing the suspected driver who surrendered to police and was locked up for his safety while investigation is underway and he will be formally charged.

The relatives however resorted to pulling out the district administration vehicle that is now under their custody.

Regional police commander, Inspector Spencer Aili has appealed to the relatives of the deceased girl to allow the law to take its course.

“We understand that the situation is very painful and traumatic and they must not do any damage to the government vehicle that is now in their custody and assure that the suspect will be dealt with accordingly”.

He said many accidents have resulted in vehicles damaged with injuries and even deaths.

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Ramu NiCo sets 2015 production target

RAMU NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd has set this year’s production target at 83% capacity rate during its ongoing project ramp up and this is also in line with requirements from MCC-Group, the financier and major shareholder of the only nickel and cobalt project in the country. Ramu NiCo is currently operating at 70% design capacity.

If the planned technical bottlenecks are overcome with favourable natural and social environment including rainy seasons in favour of Ramu NiCo Project this year, then the production capacity can reach 83 per cent design capacity.

This was announced by Mr Wang Jicheng, president of Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd during the Ramu NiCo 2015 Annual Work Report Conference held on Monday January 26 via video conferencing including Beijing Office, Madang Base, Basamuk Refinery and KBK Mine sites, attended by all staff from Beijing Office, Madang Base,

At a glance

CHINA METALLURGICAL GROUP: Part of MCC Holding Hong Kong Corp. Ltd. (MCC), is a state-owned enterprise in Beijing, China, engaging in EPC (engineering, procurement and construction), natural resources exploitation, papermaking, equipment fabrication, real estate development.

RAMU NICKEL PROJECT: The Ramu Nickel Project boasts a total reserve of 140 million tons of nickel including over 78 million tons that are proven and mineable. The project also represents China’s largest greenfield mining investment abroad. - ramunico.com

deputy superintendents and senior managers.

Chairman Zhong Shaoxing, president Wang Jicheng, vice president Wang Baowen also attended and the conference was chaired by vice president Charles Zha from Madang.

With the fluctuating nickel and cobalt world price and other uncontrolled external and internal factors, Mr Wang said the project would still make a loss in 2015 with the deficit control within the set target even if 83% design capacity

was achieved.

“Currently, we are faced with the development of quality, challenging process bottlenecks, team stability and cross-cultural management and other aspects.

“To increase production capacity and operational management level, we have established a ‘12345’ management approach, to complete various tasks centering on cash flow and ramp up,” Mr Wang said.

The ‘12345’ approach” includes: manage cash flow, ensure competition and Health, Safety and

Environment, make changes in operation philosophy, innovative development and step up progress in production.

Mr Wang said 2015 was not only a challenging year but also a year to fight for survival and explore potentials to increase benefits.

Chairman Zhong in his closing remark said Ramu NiCo Project was the flagship Project of MCC-Group and if successful then it would be the largest investment by any Chinese enterprises outside China.

Chairman Zhong and President Wang urged all staff in the Ramu NiCo Project to be vigilant, take pride in the Project and work hard to deliver the Project so all stakeholders can realise the benefits. Meanwhile, President Wang set the project to have “zero fatality” this year with Community Affairs to work closely with the external stakeholders, especially, the landowners to create a harmonious environment to safeguard the operation.

Market Snapshot

$A struggles as rate cut expectations grow

TRAINS at Basamuk is in full operation as the project attempts to achieve 83 percent capacity.

Amend Oil, Gas Act for domestic gas obligation: Ekanda

BY PATRICK.T.WUNDAI

THE proposed PNG Domestic Gas Reservation policy can be done through a proper amendment to the Oil and Gas Act 1998 and not just a derivation of a concept.

LNG and resource advocate

Simon Ekanda while responding to a paid advertorial taken out by the acting chief executive officer of Konebada Petroleum Park Authority (KPPA) Donald Valu on Monday in this newspaper said, “the entire Oil and Gas Act of 1998 must be changed or

The bottom line

amended in order to secure a greater gas supply and equity in any LNG and gas development.”

“Asking for 15% of what you already own is a cheap shot at it and has become a laughing stock for the Government,” Mr Ekanda said.

The Tuguba tribe chairman from Hides where 80% of the gas feeds the current PNG LNG Project said that the Government professed to own the land, resource including undeveloped gas resources 6 feet underground and as so they must owe up

to their words. “The Constitution gives ownership of mineral and gas resources to the Government yet its buying at a higher price of what it already owns by law.

“This is unrealistic in a country where the State owns the natural resources including oil and gas or minerals for that matter,” Mr Enkanda added.

Mr Ekanda who is the president of Mama-Papa Graun Association which advocates for Papua New Guineans ownership of its natural resources including oil and gas

and minerals opposed to what the Constitution says, said the KPPA’s paid advertorial is unrealistic saying, “it’s a scam” to steal gas for few handful’s benefit than the greater Papua New Guineans.

“If the Government is serious abut committing gas to domestic market then, it must be done properly and the only way to do it is by amending the Oil & Gas Act 1998. And that must be done on the floor of Parliament and not at the corridors of hotels at night.

“Also, all stakeholders including the respective pro-

vincial governments in which they host a gas project, the Local Level Government and the landowners who are important stakeholders,” Mr Ekanda said.

He also stated that if the Government was wise enough, such domestic gas obligation should have been factored in the current PNG LNG Project when it signed the PNG Gas Agreement on May 22, 2008.

“Now the government talks about domestic gas obligation and trying to set up a petroleum park. Who’s idea is

Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% share in 1976 for $800. Today, it’s worth over $58 billion.

that? Who is going to benefit from this concept? Are there any consultation done with the proposed gas developing provinces? And are they going to amend the Oil & Gas Act 1998?” Mr Ekanda asked.

He also urged the KPPA and the Government to tell the people what has transpired of the millions of kina spent on the so-called Konebada Petroleum Park.

“There was over K50 million allocated for this petroleum park ten years ago. What happened to this tax payer’s money? Mr Ekanda asked.

Girua Airport project on track

Construction costs K38.4 million

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE construction of the K38.4 million Girua Airport Project in Oro Province is progressing well and should be completed within 15 months, according to the contractor.

The China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) yesterday advised that the project is well on track and after they signed the agreement with the State through the employer of the project, the National Airport Corporation (NAC) in early December 2013.

Executives of CHEC told Post-Courier yesterday that the project, the general scope of works for the contract, includes 1675m (1.7km) general repairs to runway, construction of 3530m (3.5 km) Culvert, construction of 5425m (5.2km) security fencing, construction of new terminal building and associated facilities.

“CHEC responded rapidly and made a fast pace after signing of the contract. All the works is orderly underway which will lay a good start for the future construction,” the executives told the Post-Courier. The contract amount is K38,400,000, and time for completion is 15 months.

“The completion of Aircraft Pavement upgrading

At a glance

PROJECT: The construction of the Girua Airport in Popondetta, Northern Province.

CONTRACTOR: The China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The contract for the project was signed in early December 2013.

COST: The project amounts to K38.4m.

COMPLETION: According to the contractor, the project time for completion is within 15 months.

construction will greatly relieve transportation pressure in Girua Airport, and will stimulate economic development in Popondetta and Oro Bay,” CHEC executives told Post-Courier.

“As the successful stevedoring of equipment and construction materials took place when the vessel arrived at Oro Bay on December 4, 2014, the urgent needs for the start of construction, which already and progressively started and everything is now in position, which will ensure the success of preliminary construction,” CHEC said.

Girua Airport Aircraft

Pavement Upgrading and Associated Works is located in Popondetta, the northern tip of PNG.

PNG economic growth not fully utilised: UNDP

WHILE Papua New Guinea has experienced economic growth during the past decade, the results of this growth have yet to be effectively translated into meaningful improvements in the wellbeing of all citizens, says Roy Trivedy, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea.

fers from infrastructure deficit of $800 billion (K2.086 trillion) every year despite of a surplus in savings.

In this context, as noted at the symposium, capital markets and financial sectors will need to be strengthened.

New Statcom machine to boost power in Madang

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

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“International Financial Institutions have a long history of providing support to Papua New Guinea. The UN team in the country partners with them on many important issues. The role of the IFI is very important in ensuring that investments lead to positive human development impacts. We stand ready to support these efforts in partnership with the IFIs, the Government of Papua New Guinea and others,” Mr Trivedy said.

The analysis was made in a policy symposium organised by the UNDP and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that took place at UN Headquarters in New York.

The discussions at the symposium “Developing Asia and the Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities for International Financial Institutions”, were focused around the role international financial institutions play in the development of Asia

and the Pacific region.

Despite of significant progress in the Asia-Pacific region, the region still faces major challenges since most of the world’s poor reside here – 1.6 billion people in Asia and Pacific still live under the $2 poverty line; a large number of poor are highly vulnerable to external shocks (including volatility in world prices of primary commodities); inequality remains a challenge; the region still suf-

Going beyond financing, IFIs will need to extend support in the areas of innovation, knowledge sharing and provide leverage to the diverse and growing middle-income countries of the region.

It was also noted that in a changing world the International Financial Institutions will need to re-think their roles and how they will contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN is repositioning to be ‘fit for purpose’ to rise up to the emerging challenges ahead.

Participants of the symposium - ambassadors and representatives of permanent missions to the UN - raised concerns relating to their specific national contexts, and suggested how IFIs can support them.

Among the issues raised were climate risks faced by Pacific Island countries, lack of real-time data for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals, and challenges related to finance for development.

MADANG residents will no longer have to worry about low power voltage; thanks to the new STATCOM equipment currently in operation, says PNG Power Limited (PPL) executives.

PPL Momase Regional manager Albert Nanako said the equipment was purchased at a cost of K4 million and is the third to have been installed in the country. “Work on the setting up and testing of the equipment commenced in October last year and it was finally completed in over the weekend.

“Now that we have the STATCOM in place, it will help to maintain the voltage and minimise power loss during distribution of electricity,” Mr Nanako said.

He explained that previously, residents in Madang Province often experienced low voltages, and contributed to damages in electrical appliances in homes and businesses. “Now that the equipment is in operation, it will assist in maintaining the same voltage supplied from Ramu and Yonkey, right through to Madang,” he added.

The equipment was set up at the Mero sub-station in Madang.

CONSTRUCTION materials being offloaded at Oro Bay.

UNDP Resident Representative in PNG Roy Trivedy

Qantas scraps fuel surcharge, raises fares

AUSTRALIAN carrier Qantas will axe fuel surcharges on international ticket prices, but will raise base air fares to compensate for the cut.

The airline said on Tuesday that fares would not change, because the surcharge would be “absorbed” into base fares.

The move comes despite a call for the airline industry to cut fares on falling oil prices.

But Qantas said air fares were very competitive and lower than when the surcharge was introduced a decade ago.

“If you look at the trends in global aviation over the past decade, costs and competition have been increasing while fares and airline margins have been falling,” said Chief Executive Alan Joyce in a statement.

“The dynamics of this market have seen Qantas International post significant losses in the past two years,” he said, adding that yields were still significantly lower than before the global financial crisis.

The national carrier is recovering from the heavy losses and announced last month that it expects to post its best first-half result since 2010. - BBC

Aust miners shy away from meet

PERTH: Australian mining companies are shying away from Africa’s largest mining conference as the ebola epidemic and commodities downturn dents confidence.

Numbers at this year’s Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town are expected to be much lower than last year as many Perth-based mining executives and global industry representatives stay home.

Australia-Africa Mining Industry

Group chief executive Trish O’Reilly says Indaba organisers are offering discounts to stimulate interest in the February event which hosted 7800 people last year.

“The numbers are down a lot,” Ms O’Reilly told AAP.

“It’s not a good year with commodity prices and 2015 is not going to be a good year so our members in Australia are saying they’re not going to Indaba.”

Ms O’Reilly said South Africa’s decision to restrict travel between ebolaaffected west African nations was also affecting interest in this year’s conference which is in its 21st year.

“Between Australians not going and travel bans it will be interesting to see the impact,” Ms O’Reilly said.

More than 1000 Australian delegates attended Indaba in 2014, but Ms O’Reilly anticipates only half will attend this year.

Around 200 Australian listed re-

At a glance

MINING INDABA: An annual professional conference dedicated to the capitalisation and development of mining interests in Africa. It is currently is the world’s largest mining investment event and Africa’s largest mining event.

CONFERENCE DATE: The Mining Indaba conference will run from February 9-12.

sources companies are active in Africa but many junior explorers have shelved plans in ebola-affected countries while weaker commodity prices affect the viability of projects.

West Australian premier Colin Barnett delivered a keynote speech at the 2014 Indaba conference and signed an agreement to help African nations develop their mining laws.

But Mr Barnett, who was heckled by protesters about his government’s shark cull policy, will not be attending this year’s conference.

The Australian government is understood to have filled 50 Indaba delegate places involving companies investing or operating in Africa.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Rio Tinto’s head of Diamonds and Minerals Alan Davies will speak at the conference which runs from February 9 to 12. - AAP

Quick news

PROJECT ON HOLD

AGL Energy has suspended fracking operations at a northern NSW gas project after the detection of dangerous chemicals. Testing work at the Waukivory project, located near Gloucester, has been suspended after benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were detected in flowback water from four drilling wells and in a water storage tank. The chemicals can have harmful effects on the central nervous system.

TELCO DEAL

VODAFONE on Monday signed a partner market agreement with DoCoMo Pacific that will see the telcos jointly offer services to businesses and consumers in the Pacific islands of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The deal sees DoCoMo Pacific, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s NTT DoCoMo, benefit from Voda’s best practice and product and service portfolio.

EXEC EXITS

SOUTH Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE) chief executive Jinita Prasad has resigned from her position. SPSE Board of Directors member and chairperson Nur Bano Ali made the announcement yesterday, saying Prasad will exit from her position on April 24. Ali said that during her time at SPSE, Prasad has made significant contributions to the development of the stock market in Fiji.

Qantas is removing its fuel surcharges on international flights but says airfares will not become cheaper. - BBC

matters

Could gas develop the economy?

EXPORTING all future PNG gas extract for income may not be the best use of this remarkable resource. LNG should also be used for domestic power consumption and petrochemical feedstock to boost industry and provide muchneeded jobs, argues Petroleum Operations Advisor to the World Bank, Michael McWalter.

The PNG LNG Project is a great achievement.

The project leaders have turned remote, distressed and valueless gas resources into commercially viable and producing gas reserves aimed at the energy deficient markets of East Asia where customers are prepared to pay a premium for LNG delivered to their shores.

It is always lovely to have a success, but the proof of PNG’s ability to develop and improve the lives of its people this century

requires repeated successes, taking into account the lessons of the project.

Those lessons are reflected in the pragmatism and patience exercised throughout the gestation of the project by political fi gures, landowners, ExxonMobil executives and customers, like the Japanese.

By engaging fi rst-class local staff and learning so much about our society, ExxonMobil has become part of PNG. With more LNG projects in the pipeline, it is timely to consider how to develop those fields, and get the best value from their output.

Stocktake

The country’s fi rst LNG Project will produce about 9.5 trillion standard cubic feet of gas over its life. There may probably be

another 30 trillion standard cubic feet to develop and proven reserves amount to about 20 trillion standard cubic feet.

This is only a rough estimate.

So fi rstly, we need a new stocktake of the petroleum resources and reserves to be undertaken by the Government, preferably with the help of the various licensees and experienced assessors. We can then make better assessment of what do to with the gas.

Order of development

It seems several more LNG trains may be established, preferably in synergy with the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG Project.

For instance, InterOil and its partners could bring gas from the Elk-Antelope gas field down to Caution Bay into LNG processing trains on the same site, and

use the same storage and marine terminal.

The same applies for other gas fields even as distant as those in the Western Province; the gas may be transported by pipeline across Papua to the existing Caution Bay site.

So which gas fields need to be developed next?

One notion is for a series of LNG Projects: one near Kerema to serve the Elk-Antelope field and any other nearby gas resources; and one at Daru Island to serve and process gas from the fields within the Western Province.

The fundamental problem with these ideas is the main reason why the current PNG LNG Project is located at Caution Bay to serve the Highlands gas fields.

It is all about suitability of the coastal location to accommodate

the large footprint of an LNG Plant, the availability of supplies of labour and goods from Port Moresby, access to harbours and airports, and the ability to build a marine terminal into deep enough water to accommodate LNG carriers. Bringing gas by pipelines is considerably easier than establishing multiple plants along the Papuan coast.

Planned development

It seems as though the licensees are allowed to haphazardly develop the gas resources within their licences according to their own commercial agenda, rather than in accordance with a properly devised gas development plan of the Government.

Retrenchment savings pays off with WIB scheme

GETTING retrenched from the workforce is a big change in life that can leave one feeling somewhat disoriented as they try to plan their next course of action. It is certainly a time of great challenge.

It is during this time that we fi nd ourselves thinking about the future and what it holds for us but most of all, what to do with the savings received from our fi nal entitlements.

For a good number of people, this would mean moving back to the village and enjoying the simplicity of what life has to offer. For some, their mortgage will be their biggest debt and their highest priority while others would put their money to more practical use and engage in small investment ventures or small income generating activities to keep them going and even go into the small business enterprise (SME) sector.

Kinibo Bala, who hails from Gabagaba Village in the Central Province, had been working with a reputable bank in the country for the last 28 years until her retrenchment recently.

At the age of 46, and with four kids, Kinibo started weighing out

used to run their

her options on what to do with her fi nal entitlements to support her family as she is still actively fit for

work but is now out of a job. This was when she decided to visit the National Development

Bank’s Women in Business (WIB)

Desk at the NDB Head Office in Waigani to obtain more informa-

tion. Being quite familiar with the banking and fi nance industry, it did not take long for Kinibo to decide whom to obtain the loan from to start up her business.

Seeing the growing demand for transportation in her village, Kinibo used her retrenchment payout as the 30 percent equity and along with other requirements, applied for a loan of K60, 000 under the Women in Business Start up package to assist her to purchase a new Toyota Hiace bus to run the Gabagaba – Port Moresby route.

After meeting all the requirements, her loan was approved and Kinibo was able to purchase her new Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) bus that is now operating as Kidoai Bus Service.

When called by this Bank to be informed of the good news, a humbled Kinibo was in despair as she had lost her father and was in the process of burying him when the call went through but despite her very emotional state managed to say a simple thank you to NDB for the fi nancial assistance it has provided for starting up something to keep her going at a time when needed the most.

NDB WIB of fi cer Angeline Rex with Mrs. Kinibo and her husband next to their new16 seater bus which will be

PMV service business.

Biaru man gains from Choice Super

IT STARTS with a treacherous one and a half day journey by motor-powered dinghy down the Lakekamu River for Kakoro villagers in the Malalaua District of Gulf Province. The local dialect spoken is Biaru for the community nestled at the head of the Lakekamu River.

The journey ends at Yapoi Bridge for market venders and commuters travelling to Port Moresby or nearby Malalaua Station.

This is a monthly requirement for Ben Koum a local entrepreneur from Kakoro village since joining Choice Super in April last year. Ben runs a trade store, has a dinghy that ferry’s passengers up and down the Lakekamu at a cost of K100 per person and is a local gold buyer in the area.

It was through one of his cargo trips to Port Moresby that he became a Choice Super member, a decision he is proud to share with all Papua New Guineans.

“I was at a relative’s house at Gordons Police Barracks one afternoon when a TV advertisement caught my attention. It was the Choice Super commercial. It showed fi shermen, dinghy operators, trade store owners, farmers and many informal sector businesses and delivered the message a little investment towards your future,” says Ben.

“I was also in search of such an opportunity so when I saw the advert I got the address and made my way to Nambawan Super Port Moresby Office to enquire about

how I could become a member,”

he further iterated.

“I always thought superannuation was only for the working class however I am very happy that Nambawan Super has tapped into the informal sector enabling me to open a Choice Super Account. My responsibility now is ensuring that I do my monthly

deposits without fail so my money grows ideally in a safe and secure fi nancial environment without any fees and charges,” said Ben. Before joining Choice Super, Ben did not have any savings account, he kept all his money stashed away in his house and used it for replenishing cargo for his trade store and other necessities like

parts for his outboard motor and customary obligations.

He is now encouraging his fellow villagers to join Choice Super and invest for the future. Already two have joined up his cousin Eki Aut another local entrepreneur in Kakoro and his nephew Peter Winia 22 years and a CTCS student at the University of Papua New Guinea Campus in Port Moresby.

They have a bold and visionary dream for saving and investing through Nambawan Super – a dream that could change Kakoro Village for the better.

Ben Koum points out that educating the children of Kakoro to become teachers, nurses, agriculturalists, Carpenters and Welders is a dream that he would like his village to achieve one day and in turn make Kakoro Community a better and sustainable community in the future.

Choice Super is a Voluntary Superannuation Product tailored especially for those in the informal Sector, landowners, cash crop growers, local PMV operators and for people like Ben, Eki and Peter who are serious about saving for the future. It is a long term product for retirement and cannot be withdrawn except for retirement or exceptional circumstances.

Choice Super was developed to facilitate Voluntary Superannuation Services targeting the informal sector market with a minimum regular contribution of K20 on a fortnightly or monthly basis. Members are also encouraged to

do lump sum deposits for rapid growth of their savings.

Choice Super members can also enjoy the services and benefits that are accorded to compulsory Nambawan Super members. This services and benefits include:

Housing Advance Scheme – After five years of being a Choice Super member you will be eligible to get a 100 percent Housing advance from your contributions to assist with the purchases or building of a principal place of residence, carry out maintenance/improvement to the house the member already owns or buy state land on which to construct a house.

Nambawan Loyalty Discount Members of Choice Super will also be able to receive discounts from participating alliances.

Nambawan Savings & Loans Members will also be able to open accounts with the Nambawan Savings and Loans Society for their short term fi nancial needs whilst their Choice Super accounts is making money for them.

Nambawan Super Chief Executive Officer, Garry Tunstall is in high spirits at the growth of members utilising the product. “The product will defi nitely attract a large number of contributors which in turn should also bring good results for all Nambawan Super Members,” Mr Tunstall said.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WITHDRAWAL OF PAPER BANKNOTES

The public is hereby advised that all PAPER BANKNOTES (K2.00, K5.00, K10.00, K20.00, K50.00 and K100.00), which have been in circulation previously are been withdrawn by the Bank of Papua New Guinea in accordance with Section 62 of the Central Banking Act of 2000. These PAPER BANKNOTES ceased to be legal tender in Papua New Guinea since 2012.

The PAPER BANKNOTES have been phased out and replaced by the POLYMER (plastic) substrate. The Polymer Banknotes remain as legal tender and are not affected by this notice.

Despite of the withdrawal of the PAPER BANKNOTES in 2012, the Bank of PNG has allowed the public who are holding onto PAPER BANKNOTES to return them only to the Bank of PNG and not commercial banks during 2013/2014. The Bank is aware that there are some unused PAPER BANKNOTES in the hands of the public. These unused PAPER BANKNOTES will NOT be accepted in exchange for Polymer Banknotes.

The public is therefore advised that effective from 31st December 2014 the Bank of PNG will NOT accept any more PAPER BANKNOTES in exchange for Polymer Banknotes .

All queries regarding this notice should be addressed to Mr. David Lakatani on telephone number 3227343 or email dlakatani@bankpng.gov.pg

Authorised by:

Loi M. Bakani Governor

ABOVE, from left: Eki Aut, Peter Winia and Ben Koum. Below: Nambawan Super Chief Operating Of fi cer Charlie Gilichibi (second left) with members at the NSL Madang Branch.

BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Fuel low in city outlets

DIESEL at most fuel outlets in the capital city was running out by mid morning yesterday leaving cars queueing up at the service stations. This was reportedly a result of roadblocks by the Motu-Koitabuans after the death incidents of two young men from Hanuabada by police on Friday.

While investigations are underway into the deaths of the two men roadblocks are still up affecting businesses especially the PNG LNG project processing facilities at Papa-Lealea Napanapa. All access by road to the facilities

was blocked at Hanuabada and Baruni. While diesel was out of stock, petrol was running low around midday yesterday as supply coming in was limited .

PICTURES ABOVE:

At the Hohola Puma Energy Service Station, cars were lined up from PNG Power of fi ce to re fill by lunch time yesterday. Around 3.30pm cones were put up at the driveway into the same service station with the are deserted.

FANCY DRESS PARADES

MPs furious over Prince’s knighthood

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s surprise decision to knight Prince Philip has infuriated his colleagues, with a pair of Queensland MPs breaking ranks to criticise the decision publicly.

Several other MPs are also questioning the wisdom of Mr Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin, in allowing the announcement to go ahead.

North Queensland Liberal National MP Warren Entsch lashed out at the decision, telling Fairfax Media that “for the life of me, I can’t understand why” Mr Abbott decided to honour a British royal.

But Mr Entsch, a senior MP who is well respected in the Coalition partyroom, said he was “not pushing for a change in leader, I’m looking for significant change in leadership”.

A second Queensland MP, Ewen Jones, said he “didn’t see the point” of the an-

Payout for veterans of atomic test

SUVA: Fiji soldiers exposed to radiation during British nuclear tests in the Pacific more than 56 years ago are finally to receive compensation.

More than 70 military personnel, unaware of the mission they were on, were deployed from the then-British colony of Fiji to Christmas Island, now part of the island nation of Kiribati, during the British tests in 1958 at the height of the cold war. After decades of campaigning for compensation by veterans and their children who have suffered health problems, the payout was confirmed to the Fiji Sun newspaper by National Security and Defence Minister Timoci Natuva.

Although no specific details were released, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is expected to announce compensation to benefit the families of all the soldiers.

The prime minister will officiate at the event.

Hawaii plane drama

DRAMATIC footage surfaces of a pilot who is forced to ditch his plane into the ocean after it runs out of fuel off Hawaii.

nouncement, while Northern Territory’s Chief Minister and leader of the Country Liberal Party, Adam Giles, likened the announcement to an April Fool’s Day prank.

“I woke up this morning and read the wires and was confused between Australia Day and April Fool’s Day,”

Mr Giles said, adding the decision “makes us a bit of a joke in a range of areas as I really question the motivations in doing this”.

“It’s Australia day, we are not a bunch of tossers, let’s get it right.”

In recent weeks, Mr Abbott has faced questions over his leadership and has reached out to the backbench in an attempt to calm nerves and present a more consultative style.

But the knighting of Prince Philip did not go to cabinet and was the result of a “captain’s call”, with the Prime Minister consulting only the head of the National Austral-

ia Day Council, retired ADF chief Angus Houston, and Buckingham Palace.

Air Chief Marshal (retired) Houston was also made a knight on Monday.

Mr Entsch said he had not agreed with the Prime Minister’s decision to revive knights and dames in March 2014 and “I suspect that if it had gone to the party room it would have been rejected”.

“But it was something the PM decided to do; that’s his prerogative,” Mr Entsch said. “[Former governorgeneral] Quentin Bryce and [Governor-General] Peter Cosgrove were very good recipients [and] Angus Houston is great, but for the life of me I can’t understand why Prince Philip. I’ve got a dozen people in my electorate, any one of them would be more worthy.”

Mr Entsch has previously criticised Ms Credlin publicly for the operation of the Prime Minister’s Office, but

declined to repeat those criticism on Monday.

Mr Jones said he had supported the decision to revive knights and dames for governors-general.

“For anyone else, I just don’t see the point. On a scale of one to 10, this is about .25 per cent of what we should be speaking about. I wonder how much it matters to Prince Philip. To have Angus Houston in the same breath as Prince Philip is a bit much,” he said.

Mr Jones said the government should be focused on debates about the economy, industrial relations and other key issues.

Another Liberal MP, who asked not to be named but identified as a strong supporter of Mr Abbott and a monarchist, said the decision to honour Prince Philip was “embarrassing”.

The MP said the decision was the latest in a series of bad decisions and that hostil-

ity in Liberal ranks towards Ms Credlin, who keeps a tight grip on government decision making, was rising.

“She has to go, he is too loyal to her. If she goes he will buy himself some time,” the MP said.

A second MP, who also identifies as a monarchist, asked why “people were getting gongs for doing their job? Are we kidding?”

The same MP asked said the knighthood for Prince Philip had taken focus from the Australian of the Year for 2015, Rosie Batty.

“Could we talk about the main game, the economy?” the MP said.

Privately, ministers are also complaining about the functioning of Mr Abbott’s office, citing delays in paperwork making its way through the office.

Mr Abbott defended his decision on Monday, pointing to Prince Philip’s “life of service and duty”. -Stuff News

Hollywood cameraman dies while swimming

A HOLLYWOOD cameraman died in Auckland Hospital today after being found unconscious in the water with a head injury.

Oliver Lynch, from Nelson, died just before 4:45pm, his mother wrote on Facebook today, but his spirit had left “well before then”.

“May you continue to soar my son,” Camilla Edstrom, also of Nelson, wrote.

Lynch, 31, a former Nayland College student, had been in an induced coma in the hospital’s intensive care unit since being found unconscious in the water on Sunday.

It is understood he had been swimming in the Auckland area and had suffered a head injury. His uncle, Bill Lynch, said the people who found him in the water performed CPR and were able to resus-

citate him, but he was taken to hospital in a critical condition. Following news of the death, Bill Lynch posted: “He is free. Thank you all for your prayers, kind words, thoughts and support. We choose happiness over grief, as (Oliver) wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Edstrom, a Nelson entertainer, had travelled to Auckland to be by his side.

In a post on her Facebook page yesterday, she wrote, “We all want miracles” but it seemed “less and less likely” that her son would pull through.

“The length of time without oxygen has damaged his brain. I sit here grasping yet not. I read all of the pouring out of love of support. I, we are humbled,” she wrote.

“He is not in pain most like-

ly Oliver is zooming around in other dimensions flying free as a bird.”

Tributes and messages of support have been posted on Oliver’s Facebook page.

One friend, Daniel Espy, described him as a “tremendous person who takes the edge off of life and makes the world glow”. Lynch had returned home to Nelson in December. –stuff news

Dramatic footage has surfaced of a pilot who was forced to ditch his plane into the ocean after it ran out of fuel off the coast of Hawaii.

The factory-new Cirrus SR22 was en route to Hawaii from the San Francisco area when it “ran out of fuel”, the Coast Guard said in a press release.

Video from a C-130 Hercules rescue plane showed the stricken aircraft deploy its airframe parachute - standard equipment on the fiveseat aircraft - several hundred feet above the sea.

Seconds after the Cirrus hit the water with a splash, the unidentified pilot is seen climbing into a small life raft to await a passing cruise ship to pick him up, about 400 kilometres off the Hawaiian island of Maui, a half-hour later.

“The pilot was reported to be in good condition. The plane was last observed partially submerged,” the Coast Guard said.

Flight tracking website FlightAware.com indicated the US-registered aircraft was flying a 3,894-kilometre route from Tracy airport outside San Francisco to Kahului on Maui. A Cirrus SR22 can typically fly for 1,500 kilometres, but for transoceanic journeys it is fitted with extra fuel tanks in the cabin. Minnesotabased Cirrus said timely deployment of its Cirrus Airframe Parachute System had saved 104 lives worldwide since the debut of the original SR20 model in the 1990s. Similar parachutes were available for other single-engine planes. –ABC

COLOURFUL hats and Australia-themed sunglasses are the order of the day for tennis fans watching the Australian Open in Melbourne

68-year-old suspected sex offender in court

A 68-YEAR-OLD man has gone on trial accused of abusing seven boys in Perth in the 1990s.

Allan Keith Huggins faces 49 historic child sex offences, including indecently dealing with a child, sexual penetration and aggravated sexual assault.

Mr Huggins was working as a counsellor at the time, at a government school for troubled teenagers in the Perth suburb of East Victoria Park and at a counselling service in Mount Lawley.

The seven alleged victims were all boys aged between 11 and 17. They will be called as witnesses during the trial, set down for three weeks in the District Court, as well as their friends and family.

Mr Huggins’ ex-wife will also give

Climate report: Hot days may double in Aussie

THE annual number of very hot days in inland Australia could more than double in 75 years, according to a forecast of the effects of climate change by Australian science agency CSIRO.

Towns such as Alice Springs could average more than 190 days per year where the temperature crosses 35C, the CSIRO’s Kevin Hennessy told the BBC.

The town now records such temperatures on an average of 94 days annually.

Australia is often accused of ignoring the threat from climate change.

The country is one of the world’s worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters.

Non-governmental organisations say the government lags behind other industrial countries in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. The emissions are blamed for rising global temperatures and climate change.

The report, produced by the CSIRO – or Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, is said

to give the most detailed prediction yet of how the country’s climate will change over the 21st Century.

Mr Hennessy, a CSIRO principal research scientist, says Australia’s weather and environment will be noticeably affected by climate change over the next 15 to 30 years. The report predicts that:

The hot, dry weather that contributes to bushfires will become more frequent and more intense

Floods are likely to become more common, while tropical cyclones will become less frequent but more violent

Sea-levels will rise, while changes in the temperature and composition of sea-water will harm marine wildlife and their habitat, such as coral reefs

“We expect further warming, with more extremely hot days and fewer extremely cold days,” Mr Hennessy told the BBC.

Over the next 75 years, he said, average temperatures in inland Australia could rise by up to 5.3C if global warming continued unchecked.

The inland warming is higher

Selfie

evidence. In his opening address to the jury, Prosecutor Bernard Standish said Mr Huggins had previously admitted, and been convicted in 1991, of unlawfully and indecently dealing with a child.

“Huggins had a propensity to be attracted to young adolescent males,” he said.

“Further, he had a propensity to act on that attraction.”

Mr Standish told the jury they will also hear from staff who worked at the East Victoria Park school with Mr Huggins.

It is alleged he spent a lot of time one-on-one with the boys in his office with the door closed, telling other workers he was administering a form of “behaviour modification”. The trial continues. -ABC

Kiwi nears three months in jail

NEW Zealand-bornPeter Gardner continues to languish in a Chinese jail as his travel companion settles back into life in Sydney’s western suburbs after an extraordinary drug-smuggling ordeal.

Kalynda Davis, who made international headlines when she was stopped at Guangzhou airport following the discovery of 30 kilograms of ice in luggage, has spent the summer recovering from the ordeal with trips to the beach and new photos showing off the short bob haircut forced upon her while in jail.

Her friend and travel partner, Gardner, 25, is approaching his third month in a Guangzhou detention centre without being charged. Gardner holds New Zealand and

Australian citizenship and lives in Sydney.

Chinese authorities have stopped commenting on his case and his family, from Richmond in Sydney’s north-west, declined to talk.

The dual citizen travelled on his New Zealand passport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday it was still providing consular assistance and checking on his wellbeing.

“Mr Gardner remains in custody and has legal representation,” a MFAT spokesman said. “The ministry cannot comment on the ongoing investigation or intervene in the judicial proceedings of another country.” Davis’ lawyer, Paul Blunt, said she would not be talking publicly about her ordeal. -Stuff News

than the global average that has been anticipated by 2090 under the so-called worst-case scenario, where greenhouse gas emissions remain high.

For example, Mr Hennessy said, the town of Alice Springs could average up to twice as many very hot days per year by 2090.

The temperature in Alice Springs crosses 35C on an average of 94 days per year at the moment. By 2030, researchers estimate that the number of such days could be between 104 and 122 every year.

By 2090, under the worst-case scenario, the number of days where the mercury crosses 35C could be between 145 and 193. “So, it’s over a third of the year over 35C,” Mr Hennessy said. Were effective action to be taken against climate change by 2090, the research suggests Alice Springs would only record such temperatures on 115 to 152 days per year.

The report has based its projections on up to 40 global climate models, and is aimed at the natural resource management sector. – BBC

AN Australian man takes a dip. Australia is expecting more hot days in the future. Picture: ABC

Canberra should host festivities

THE formal Australia Day celebrations should remain in the national capital, according to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

His comments came after Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles wrote to the Prime Minister asking for formal celebrations to be moved out of Canberra, and into regional cities such as Darwin.

Mr Giles said Prime Minister Tony Abbott had replied to his letter and said it was a “very good idea”.

However Mr Barr said no-one should take the proposal to shift events out of Canberra seriously. “Nice try Adam [Giles] but I don’t think anyone wants to go to Darwin,” he said. “We have the national capital celebrations in the national capital for that reason.

“Australia Day is celebrated in different ways around the country, but those important national elements such as the Australian of the Year awards and significant events that occur over the long weekend, need to occur in Canberra.”

ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said the Northern Territory proposal to move key activities was clearly nonsense.

“It would be ridiculous to move the national celebration from the national capital,” he said. “We put on a great show every year and everybody acknowledges that, and I think to move it to Darwin would be stupidity.”

Canberra celebrated its centenary two years ago after being declared the national capital in 1913. – ABC

Childhood cancer survivor offers hope for children

ALMOST 23 years after becoming the youngest ever recipient of a bone marrow transplant in Australia, Georgia Lowry is using her experience as a childhood cancer sufferer to help other young children who are suffering with the disease.

Ms Lowry was just eight weeks old when she was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive cancer acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

At six months, she became the youngest ever bone marrow transplant recipient in the country, courtesy of her two-year-old sister Grace.

Despite the transplant being successful, the cancer returned a few months later and a dangerous second transplant was required.

Almost 23 years later, Georgia is cancer free but still struggles with the sideeffects of the intense radiation and chemotherapy.

Now she is using her experience to help other young children, volunteering as a companion with the cancer charity Camp Quality.

She has teamed up with four-year-old Meg Davidson, from Geraldton in Western Australia, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. “I’m going to be a companion in Camp Quality, because all the years I’ve spent being a Camper, and being looked after by them, I just thought I’d give back and become a camp leader,” Georgia told 7.30.

Meg’s mother, Sheree, said Georgia’s involvement gives them hope. “When you are undergoing the cancer journey the future ahead is so hard, to look beyond that is

so hard,” Ms Davidson told 7.30. “Seeing Georgia, the battle she would have gone through as a child and as a baby, and to see that there is hope, is magic, it gives you light.”

Camp Quality spokesman

Garry Nunn said having adults who have had childhood cancer return to volunteer with the charity was inspiring.

“What people like Georgia are doing today, they are giving children with cancer, but also their families, a real sense of optimism and a real sense of resilience,”

Mr Nunn said.

“Wherever that child is, Georgia will be helping her get through the next day, the next week, and whatever happens to children like Meg, Georgia can help coach them through it and say look at me, I survived this, you can do all the fun things that kids do, and I can help you do that.”

Georgia’s actions speak even more loudly than her words. She leads a full life, including working at a childcare centre and competing in equestrian events.

“It’s a dangerous sport and for an able-bodied person to do,” her mother Ann Marie Lowry told 7.30.

“Every time she gallops and jumps it scares us, but when she comes back and she’s got that smile on her face and she just pumps the air, always looks for her dad, because they are the horse people, it’s just a beautiful feeling and she lives for it, she loves it.” And she achieves all this despite the physical dam-

Author hits out at Kiwi government

age left by the intense radiation and chemotherapy she had as a baby. “Georgia has a long-term liver problem which she lives with, damage to her heart, she’s had damage to her lungs, she’s had problems with her teeth, problems with her gastrointestinal tract, problems with her hair, problems with her growth and bones,” Ms Lowry said. “All of those things have been affected by the radiotherapy and so regularly we see about seven specialists at Princess Margaret (Hospital) on a two to three times a year basis.”

Despite this, Ms Lowry is thrilled that Georgia can now provide hope and inspiration to young cancer sufferers. “I think it’s a wonderful cycle, and it is really worth celebrating,” she said. “Camp Quality is a wonderful cause, but for George to have survived, thrived, and got back to a position where she can give back as a carer is beyond our wildest dreams.” – ABC

Aussie IS fighter surprises female friend

A WOMAN claiming to be a supporter of Kurds fighting against Islamic State has told friends of Matthew Gardiner that she was shocked to learn he was an Australian political figure.

The former president of the Labor Party’s Northern Territory branch is believed to have travelled to the

The bottom line

Middle East earlier this month to support the campaign. He recently befriended a woman called Kader Kadandir on Facebook. Her page shows photos of Kurdish fighters, and has links to the pages “Stand with Kurdistan”, “Support the Kurds” and “Help free the Kurds”. During a fiery

exchange on Facebook with several of Mr Gardiner’s other friends she wrote she had not known he was a “political man”.

But it remained unclear whether Ms Kadandir had met Mr Gardiner in person.

The ABC has attempted to contact Ms Kadandir and Mr Gardiner. Australians

found to be illegally visiting the war-torn region could face a prison term of up to 10 years. It is understood that the Australian Federal Police are investigating Mr Gardiner’s possible involvement in the Middle East. An academic told 105.7 ABC Darwin someone already involved in the con-

flict probably persuaded Mr Gardiner to travel to the Middle East. “Well it seems an extraordinary error of judgment and yet there are elements about this story, his age notwithstanding, which are very familiar,” said Prof Greg Barton of Monash University’s Global Terrorism Research Centre.

WELLINGTON: Acclaimed author Eleanor Catton says she’s struggled with being an ambassador for New Zealand because she doesn’t think the country is doing as much as it could to support the literary arts.

Catton, who won the 2013 Man Booker Prize for her novel The Luminaries, has been at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India where she told reporters she’s struggled with her identity as a New Zealand writer.

“I’ve never really thought of myself as a New Zealand writer. Coming and being an ambassador for my country when I feel that actually my country is not doing as much as they could for the intellectual world in general, but for the literary arts ... It’s just a slightly complicated position to be in,” she said. Catton said she feels “very angry with my government”.

“At the moment, New Zealand, like Australia and Canada, (are dominated by) these neo-liberal, profit-obsessed, very shallow, very money-hungry politicians who do not care about culture.

“They care about shortterm gains. They would destroy the planet in order to be able to have the life they want,” India’s Live Mint news website quoted her as saying.

NZ Prime Minister John Key said he’s disappointed Catton “doesn’t have respect for the work we do because I have tremendous respect for what she does as a writer”.

He said Catton has been aligned with the Green Party.

Many people have no idea that bananas are technically both a herb and a fruit, grown on a banana plant, not a tree

AT six months, Georgia Lowry became the youngest ever recipient of a bone marrow transplant in Australia. Picture: ABC

A MIX of fl ags on show at the ute muster in Darwin’s Hidden Valley during Australia Day celebrations. Picture: ABC

Police killed in gun fight

AT least 49 Philippine police commandos have been killed in a clash with Muslim rebels in the south, a bloodbath which tested a peace accord signed last March.

An 11-hour gun battle broke out after police entered the remote town of Mamasapano, held by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) without coordinating with the rebels as required under their ceasefire agreement.

The bodies of 49 police have been recovered from the town on Mindanao island and moved to an army camp, regional police spokeswoman Judith Ambong told AFP. She did not say whether any MILF members were killed.

Police had been targeting two high-profile terror suspects in the operation.

“This is going to be a big problem,” the MILF’s chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told AFP when asked how the fighting would affect the peace process.

But he and government officials said the ceasefire still held.

Philippine national police chief Leonardo Espina and interior and local government secretary Manuel Roxas flew to Maguindanao on Monday to check on the situation.

Flags across the Philippines

US urges ‘more inclusive politics’ in Thailand

THE most senior US envoy for East Asia has called for a “more inclusive political process” in Thailand, as he made the most high-level US visit to the country since last year’s coup.

Daniel Russel held talks with government officials and ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. He said last week’s vote by militaryappointed lawmakers to impeach Ms Yingluck could be seen as political.

The US, an ally of Thailand, suspended some aid in the wake of the May coup.

The military took power 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 on a scheduled trip to the region, which will take in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia.

In Bangkok on Monday, he met representatives of the military government, but not the general who led the coup and is now prime minister, Prayut Chan-ocha.

The US State Department said he had told Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn that America’s relationship with Thailand “cannot return to normal until democracy is re-established”.

In a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Mr Russel said the US was “particularly concerned that the political process doesn’t seem to represent all elements in Thai society”.

He also warned that when an elected leader such as Ms Yingluck is impeached by the authorities that overthrew her “the international community is left with the impression that these steps could be politically driven”, AFP news agency reports.

Ms Yingluck’s impeachment and her criminal charges stem from a controversial rice subsidy scheme, which hit the country’s exports hard.

Critics say that it funnelled money to Ms Yingluck’s party’s power base in the north, but she has defended it as a scheme to help the rural poor and denied her involvement in its day-today operations.

Ms Yingluck’s supporters say the claims are a bid to remove her from politics.

Last week’s developments were the latest in Thailand’s ongoing political turmoil, which began in 2006 when the military ousted Ms Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was prime minister then.

Ms Yingluck and Mr Thaksin remain hugely popular among Thailand’s rural poor, but are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power. -BBC news

have been placed at half-mast in police camps and offices to mourn the deaths of the police commandos.

The clash was the “first encounter” between the Philippine government and the MILF since a peace agreement was signed in March.

Mr Iqbal said he hoped peace timetables would not be impacted by the renewed fighting.

“We are committed (to the peace process). For the MILF, the ceasefire still holds,” he said.

The 10,000-member MILF had agreed to end decades of rebellion in exchange for a proposed law now being debated in parliament that would give the minority Muslims self-rule in several southern provinces.

The Philippines Congress, which had been trying to draft the bill, suspended its hearings in the wake of the gun battle.

Rebels were scheduled to start the disarming process at the start of this year.

Since the peace deal was struck, government forces have been going after the BIFF, a group of several hundred Muslim gunmen who last year pledged allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

-BBC news

MANILA signed a treaty with MILF rebels in March to end one of Asia’s longest and deadliest rebellions. Picture: BBC

Besides Thailand, Mr Russel is also visiting the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia on his tour of Asia. Picture: BBC

Lawyer urges Bali Nine execution appeal

JAKARTA: Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan have been refused permission to leave prison to make a last-ditch appeal of their death sentences.

Their Indonesian lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis says it’s hoped the court registrar will go to them instead.

The Bali Nine ringleaders have been on death row in Kerobokan jail since 2006.

But their date with the firing squad is nearing after they were denied presidential clemency.

Mr Lubis will file for a judicial review, known as a PK, late this week.

“I will still file a second PK because I do believe (there’s) a misapplication of the law, serious mistakes by previous judges,” he said.

Obama: India and US can be ‘best partners’

NEW DELHI: President

Barack Obama says the United States could be India’s “best partner” as he wrapped up a three-day visit to New Delhi by highlighting the shared values of the world’s biggest democracies.

Speaking to an audience of young people, the US president reiterated that the relationship between Washington and New Delhi “can be one of the defining partnerships of this century” but warned the battle against climate change would be doomed unless India was fully on board.

The speech was the finale of a packed visit which has seen a dramatic upturn in an

often troubled relationship, including the signing of a new “friendship” declaration between Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The right-wing premier was persona non grata in Washington less than a year ago but has developed a close bond with Obama, with their two countries both keen to counter-balance the rise of China.

“India and the United States are not just natural partners - I believe that America can be India’s best partner,” said Obama after receiving a rapturous welcome from a group of around 1500 people.

Obama’s speech was the fi-

nal engagement on his visit, the centre-piece of which was his attendance as chief guest at Monday’s Republic Day parade - one of the biggest honours that India can bestow on a foreign leader.

Both Obama and Modi have been at pains to demonstrate their personal rapport during the visit and announced a breakthrough on a nuclear deal on Sunday that had stalled under India’s last government, although there have been few other substantive policy announcements.

Obama has said the “stars are aligned” to realise the ambitions he expressed when he last visited in 2010 for the

two countries to become global partners.

The United States is looking to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Pacific as part of Obama’s “pivot” east, and has taken note of Modi’s more assertive stance towards China than his predecessor.

Beijing claims sovereignty over large swathes of the South China Sea, home to maritime lanes that are vital to global trade, and is engaged in territorial disputes with a host of nations in the region.

But in his speech, Obama said that freedom of navigation must be upheld.

“The United States wel-

comes a greater role for India in the Asia Pacific, where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and disputes must be resolved peacefully,” Obama said.

Speaking after their talks on Sunday, Modi said he would not be pressured on climate by any country - comments seen in part as aimed at China after it agreed on new carbon emissions targets with the US.

But Obama warned the world does not “stand a chance against climate change” unless developing countries reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

-AAp news

“Then there are changes that have taken place at Kerobokan Prison in the case of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.”

Mr Lubis says the pair have achieved a remarkable rehabilitation, and inspired improvement in the jail and fellow inmates.

The Supreme Court isn’t involved in rehabilitation and doesn’t know these facts, he said.

But it’s uncertain whether the courts will allow a second judicial review.

As the legal effort goes on to save Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 33, so do diplomatic efforts.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the government will continue pressing the men’s case to President Joko Widodo.

But Mr Joko says Indonesia’s drugs problem needs a serious approach.

“Imagine, every day we have 50 people die because of narcotics, because of drugs,” he said in an interview with CNN to mark 100 days in office. -AAP news

Joko: No compromise on executions

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo says he will make “no compromise” on sending condemned drug dealers to the firing squad, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran who are on death row.

In an interview with CNN to mark 100 days in office, Mr Joko says Indonesia’s drugs problem needs a serious approach.

“Imagine, every day we have 50 people die because of narcotics, because of drugs,” he said.

“In one year, it’s 18,000 people who die because of narcotics.

“We are not going to compromise for drug dealers.

“No compromise. No compromise.”

Mr Joko said it was the courts that determined death sentences, and the condemned could ask him for clemency.

“But I tell you, there will be no amnesty for drug dealers,” he

said. Asked if that meant no relief for the Australians, Mr Joko just shook his head.

The first six of 64 drug offenders on death row were sent to the firing squad last week. Chan and Sukumaran have al-

ready received Mr Joko’s rejection of their clemency, and could be next.

Authorities will this week evaluate the first executions before setting a date for the next round.

-AAP news

SPECTATORS watch Indian Air Force jets performing stunts during the full-dress rehearsal ahead of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India on 26 January. Picture: BBC

WOW!

JOKO Widodo said 50 people died everyday in Indonesian because of narcotics. Picture: BBC

Women who prop up Kim Jong Un

ONE sports a Christian Dior handbag and favours Western clothes. The other carries a notebook and wears dark uniforms. These fashion opposites are the two most influential women in North Korea.

While Kim Jong Un’s wife Ri Sol Ju and younger sister Kim Yo Jong are currently allies in sustaining one of the world’s most reclusive leaders, their overlapping influence makes them potential rivals in a regime where family ties aren’t strong enough to protect against Kim’s penchant for purges.

These women of Pyongyang offer insight to an opaque regime that, while struggling to feed its people, is capable of maintaining 1.2 million men under arms and threatening neighbours with nuclear annihilation. Ri commands a growing following among the wives of North Korean elite while Kim Yo Jong now holds a senior position in the ruling Workers’ Party and serves as an adviser to her brother.

“Uneasiness is inevitable in a relationship like this,” Kang Myong Do, a son-in-law of North Korea’s former Prime Minister, Kang Song San, said by phone. “The wife wouldn’t like it if her husband got too close to his sister; the sister wouldn’t like it if her brother got too close to his wife.”

China cops dine on salamander

CHINESE officials feasting on a critically endangered giant salamander turned violent when journalists photographed the luxury banquet, according to media reports.

The 28 diners included senior police officials from the southern city of Shenzhen, appeared to flout Beijing’s austerity campaign, the Global Times said.

“In my territory, it is my treat,” it quoted a man in the room as saying.

The giant salamander is believed by some Chinese to have anti-ageing properties, but there is no orthodox evidence to back the claim.

The species is classed as “critically endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, which says the population has “declined catastrophically over the last 30 years”.

“Commercial over-exploitation for human consumption is the main threat to this species,” the IUCN said.

The Global Times cited the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily, which said its journalists were beaten up when their identities were discovered by the diners.

One was kicked and slapped, another had his mobile phone forcibly taken, while the photographer was

Swimmer fails dope test

SOUTH Korea’s first Olympic swimming gold medallist Park Tae-hwan has failed a doping test, his agency has confirmed.

The test was administered by global swimming body Fina before the Asian Games in September in Incheon, the Korea Swimming Federation said.

Park’s management has attributed the failed test to an injection for chiropractic treatment.

Park, nicknamed “Marine Boy”, is a celebrated figure in South Korea.

He won gold and silver medals at the past two Olympic Games, and even has an aquatic arena named after him.

On Tuesday, Yonhap news agency reported that Park would have to face an international hearing. Fina officials have not named the drug found in Park’s body during the test.

His agency Team GMP said that Park was injected with a banned substance by a doctor while seeking chiropractic treatment. They said that he had asked the doctor about the contents of the injection and had been assured it did not contain illegal substances.

“As a world class swimmer, Park Tae-hwan has been extremely careful about what he takes, and he hasn’t even taken cold medicine so that he wouldn’t fail doping tests... Park is more shocked by this result than anyone else,” the management said in a statement.

-BBC

choked, beaten up and had his camera smashed, the reports said.

A total of 14 police have been suspended and an investigation launched into the incident, the Global Times said.

One of the Shenzhen diners provided the salamander and said it had been captive-bred, according to the report.

Chinese president Xi Jinping has launched a much-publicised austerity drive for the ruling classes, including a campaign for simple meals with the catchphrase “four dishes and one soup”.

The ruling Communist Party also says it is cracking down on the consumption of endangered species, including shark’s fin.

China’s legislature last April approved a law including prison sentences for people caught eating rare wild animals. -ABC

Judges, Magistrates & Lawyers are to be robed for the service.

The Combined Police & CS Band will lead the Judges, Magistrates & Lawyers from the Godwit Street, Gordons next to Australian High Commission on to the Sir John Guise drive and Independence drive to the Waigani National Court premises. These roads will be closed to the Public between 8:30am – 9:30am for the reason.

There will be a Guard of Honor Parade to be inspected by his Honor, Chief Justice. Refreshments will be available after the Service, which is expected to finish by 10:45am.

The Courts in Boroko, Port Moresby and Waigani will be closing during that morning.

The 2015 Legal Year church service will be held at the main podium Waigani National Court premises – at 9:30 am on Monday 2nd February 2015. It will be lead by St Martin’s Anglican Parish.

This is an Ecumenical service to which representatives of all church congregations & the Public are invited to attend.

The service is for the Legal Profession and Law & Order Sector but members of the Public are cordially invited.

There is ample parking at Waigani court premises & the main road.

KIM Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju watch a performance by the Moranbong Band at the April 25 House of Culture. Stuff News

FBI cracks spy ring

THE FBI has charged three men it says were spying for Russia and trying to recruit sources in New York City.

US prosecutors say Evgeny Buryakov, 39, was part of an alleged spy ring that included two others in the US on official business.

The other two named defendants, Igor Sporyshev and Victor Podobnyy, no longer reside in the US.

Mr Buryakov, who worked at Russian bank in Manhattan, is scheduled to appear in court later on Monday.

He is accused of attempting to gain intelligence about potential United States sanctions against Russian banks and the US efforts to develop alternative energy resources.

Mr Buryakov also allegedly recruited Americans to spy for Russia, including several people “employed by major companies” and “several young women with ties to a major university in New York”.

-BBC news

Intelligence body disband

BUENOS AIRES: President Cristina Kirchner says she will disband Argentina’s intelligence service after a prosecutor was found dead just hours before he was to make explosive allegations against her.

Alberto Nisman, 51, was found in his Buenos Aires home with a gunshot to the head on January 18, the day before he was to go before a congressional hearing to accuse Kirchner of obstructing his investigation into a 1994 bombing at a Jewish charities federation office.

She denies the claims and says Nisman’s death - which initially was a suspected suicide - is a plot to discredit her.

Kirchner, who is scrambling to protect her record and legacy, said on Monday: “The plan is to dissolve the Intelligence Secretariat, and create a Federal Intelligence Agency.”

New York shuts down for historic snowstorm

NEW York City and other areas in the north-east US have shut down as Winter Storm Juno is expected to dump as much as 90cm (36ins) of snow.

All non-emergency vehicles were banned in New York City from 23:00 on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday) and subway services were suspended.

An emergency has been declared in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Some 60 million people may be affected.

In other developments:

6,500 flights in and out of airports along the East Coast cancelled BUSINESSES and schools closed early on Monday SCHOOLS not expected to reopen before Wednesday at the earliest BOSTON is expected to bear the brunt of the storm

The National Weather Service (NWS) earlier warned that a “potentially historic blizzard” was approaching the north-east.

Glenn Field of the NWS in Taunton, Massachusetts, told

the BBC on Monday that the storm would be worse than previously thought.

Hurricane-force winds of up to 80 mph (130km/h) would batter Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, he said.

Mr Field said the heaviest snowfall would come in the early hours of Tuesday, with 15 inches expected between 01:00 and 05:00 (06:00-10:00 GMT), and 30 inches in total in parts of Massachusetts. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned residents against violating the driving

ban in 13 southern counties of the state.

“If you are in your car and you are on any road, town, village, city, it doesn’t matter, after 11 o’clock, you will technically be committing a crime.

“It could be a matter of life and death so caution is required,” the governor said.

Echoing his words, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio urged residents to stay out of the way of the 2,300 snowploughs clearing city streets.

“You can’t underestimate this storm. What you are go-

ing to see in a few hours in something that is going to hit very hard and very fast.”

Similar bans for non-emergency vehicles were enacted in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“In addition to heavy snow, with blizzard warnings, there’s a big threat of high, damaging winds, and that will be increasing Monday into Tuesday,” said Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster. “A lot of blowing, drifting and such.”

-BBC news

Device triggers White House alert

A FLYING device triggered a security alert when it landed in the grounds of the White House, a US official says.

The US Secret Service said a “quad copter” - a small machine powered by four rotor blades - had been found. An investigation has been launched. President Barack Obama and the First Lady are currently on a visit to India.

The US Secret Service, which is tasked with the president’s security, has been criticised for recent lapses, leading to a leadership reorganisation.

In September a man armed with a knife scaled the White House perimeter fence and gained access to the building.

Days earlier an armed private security guard had been allowed to ride in the same lift as the president.

Although Mr and Mrs Obama were in New Delhi when the device was found, their children are believed to be in Washington DC, according to the New York Times.

At a press briefing in India, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “I don’t have any reason to think at this point that the first family is in any dan-

ger.” US media reports initially described the device as a small drone, but the Secret Service later said it was a two-foot-wide quad copter.

The device flew into the White House grounds at about 03:08 local time (08:08 GMT) and crashed into the south-eastern side of the complex, it said. -BBC news

A White House spokesman said the device posed no threat.

Picture: BBC

THIS could be one of the biggest storms in New York City’s history, meteorologists warn. Picture: BBC

Debt repayment ‘unrealistic’

Greek debt is unsustainable

IT is unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full, the chief economics spokesman for the victorious Syriza party has told the BBC

“Nobody believes that the Greek debt is sustainable,” Euclid Tsakalotos said.

The far-left Syriza, which won Sunday’s general election, wants to renegotiate Greece’s €240bn (£179bn; $270bn) bailout by international lenders.

EU leaders have warned the new Greek government that it must live up to its commitments to the creditors.

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras - who was sworn in as prime minister on Monday - is expected to unveil his new cabinet later on Tuesday.

“I haven’t met an economist in their heart of hearts that will tell you that Greece will pay back all of that debt. It can’t be done,” Mr Tsakalotos said.

He said that EU leaders needed now to show that they were willing to work with Syriza.

“It’s going to be a very funny and a very dangerous Europe with very strong centrifugal political forces

Ten die in NATO jet fighter crash in Spain

MADRID: Eight French and two Greek military personnel died when a Greek fighter jet crashed on takeoff at a military base in Spain housing a NATO training centre for elite pilots.

The two-seat F-16 jet “lost power” as it took off from the base near the southeastern city of Albacete and crashed into an area where other planes were parked, damaging five other aircraft, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Television footage showed flames and thick black smoke billowing from the crash site, as sirens wailed in the background.

“It appears that there are two people who died and who have Greek nationality and eight French,” Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in an interview with private television channel Telecinco.

The two Greek pilots of the crashed plane, both of them captains, are among the dead, the defence ministry said. The French victims include three captains and a lieutenant.

A further 21 people were injured in the accident - 11 Italian nationals and

10 French, the ministry added. Five of the injured suffered major burns and were taken to a specialist unit at a Madrid hospital.

The others suffered different bodily injuries. Three have already been released with the rest under observation. The Spanish ministry said it took firefighters an hour to put out the fire caused by the jet crash.

The French presidency confirmed the eight deaths and said another six French mechanics had suffered serious burns.

French President Francois Hollande “expressed his deep respect for the commitment” of the airmen who were preparing for air force missions to fight “against terrorist groups” in Iraq and the African Sahel region.

France’s defence ministry said one of those injured was in a “very serious condition” while another two had been placed in medically induced comas. Spain’s Defence Minister Pedro Morenes and the chief of staff of Spain’s air force, Francisco Javier Garcia Arnaiz, arrived late on Monday at the airbase, located about 250 kilometres southeast of Madrid.

Ukraine attack targeted civilians

MOSCOW: The UN says a rocket attack that killed 30 people in a city in eastern Ukraine deliberately targeted civilians, as Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned Western calls to rein in a pro-Moscow insurgency. A senior UN official told an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday that the deadly rocket barrage on the port city of Mariupol came from pro-Russian rebel-controlled territory and sought to strike a civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Putin earlier ridiculed the Ukrainian army as NATO’s “foreign legion” after the Western alliance’s NATOUkraine Commission met to discuss a surge in fighting that has led to a spate of civilian deaths. Another 12 people were reported killed on Monday, including seven Ukrainian soldiers, as Kiev accused the pro-Russian rebels of firing more than 100 times over the past day on both military positions and civilian areas. -AAP news

if they signal that after a democratic vote they’re not interested in talking to a new government.

“It will be a final signal that this is a Europe that can’t incorporate democratic change and it can’t incorporate social change.”

But Mr Tsakalotos stressed that it would be “my worst nightmare if the eurozone collapses because Greece falls”.

“And if Greece falls and is removed from the eurozone - the eurozone will collapse. We said from the beginning the eurozone is in danger, the euro is in danger, but it isn’t in danger from Syriza... it is in danger from the very policies of austerity”.

If Syriza were to win its negotiations with the rest of the eurozone, other antiausterity parties would look more credible to voters. The victory of protectionist Marine le Pen in France’s presidential election would be an interesting test of markets’ sangfroid.

And if Syriza were to lose in talks with Brussels and Berlin, and the final rupture of Greece from the euro were to take place, investors

might well pull their savings from any eurozone country where nationalists are in the ascendant.

So why are investors not in a state of frenzied panic?

Why have the euro and stock markets bounced a bit? One slightly implausible explanation is that investors believe the eurozone would actually be stronger without Greece, so long as no other big country followed it out the door.

More likely is that they believe reason will prevail, and Berlin will sanction a write-off of Greece’s excessive debts.

Mr Tsipras earlier stressed that he wanted negotiationnot confrontation - with international lenders.

“The new Greek government will be ready to co-operate and negotiate for the first time with our peers a just, mutually beneficial and viable solution,” he said.

The troika of lenders that bailed out Greece - the European Union, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund - imposed big budgetary cuts and restructuring in return for the money.

-BBC news

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras says he wants negotiation - not confrontation - with Greece’s lenders. Picture: BBC

TEAR GAS IN SCHOOL

EARLIER this week, scenes of schoolchildren running away from tear gas fired by police in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, sparked condemnation and even a hashtag, #OccupyPlayGround. Pupils at Lang’ata school were protesting at the loss of their playground. They had returned after a two-week teachers’ strike to find it fenced off by a private developer. Agence France Press photographer Tony Karumba was on hand to record the demonstration.

Picture: BBC

Oxfam seeks post-Ebola multi-million dollar plan

OXFAM has called for a multimillion dollar Marshall Plantype scheme to help the three West Africa countries worst affected by Ebola to recover.

More than 8,500 people have died in the outbreak, the vast majority in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Oxfam GB chief executive Mark Goldring said: “The world cannot walk away now that, thankfully, cases of this deadly disease are dropping.”

The charity said investment from wealthy countries was crucial.

The Marshall Plan was the post-World War II project for European recovery.

It was officially known as

Calls for more attacks

BEIRUT: The Islamic State jihadist group has urged Muslims to carry out new attacks after the targeting of France’s Charlie Hebdo magazine.

Abu Mohamed al-Adnani, referring to attacks in France, Australia, Canada and Belgium, urged “Muslims in Europe and the infidel West to attack the Crusaders where they are”.

“We promise that in the Christian bastions they will continue to live in a state of alert, of terror, of fear and insecurity... You have seen nothing yet,” a recording by the group’s spokesman said.

He added that the group would consider as “enemies” those Muslims who were able to carry out such attacks but failed to do so.

The threat is just the latest instance in which the jihadist group has urged Muslims to carry out attacks in the West.

It comes after 17 people were killed in deadly assaults on January 7-9 in Paris against Charlie Hebdo magazine and a kosher supermarket.

Of the three attackers, only one appeared to have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, but the group endorsed the killings in the message.

-AAP

news

US embassy in Yemen closes

the European Recovery Programme and launched in the name of the then American Secretary of State, George Marshall, in 1947.

Oxfam wants an international pledge to agree recovery plans, with financial support given by wealthy countries.

It said financial help was needed for three areas - providing cash to families affected by Ebola, investing in jobs and also supporting services like health, education and sanitation.

Mr Goldring, speaking on a visit to Liberia, said: “People need cash in their hands now, they need good jobs to feed their families in the near fu-

ture and decent health, education and other essential services. They’ve gone through hell, they cannot be left high and dry.

“The world cannot walk away now that, thankfully, cases of this deadly disease are dropping. Failure to help these countries after surviving Ebola will condemn them to a double disaster.

“The world was late in waking up to the Ebola crisis, there can be no excuses for not helping to put these economies and lives back together.”

The charity said a survey of 1,648 people in three Liberian counties found 73% of families had seen their income de-

cline following the outbreak, with some struggling to buy enough food as a result. Its survey found that 60% said they had not had enough food in the past seven days, with a quarter saying this was due to a drop in income and a fifth saying this was due to high food prices.

The price of rice has risen 40% above its seasonal average in Liberia, Oxfam said.

The World Bank has estimated nearly 180,000 people have lost their jobs in Sierra Leone since the outbreak began, with half of the heads of households in Liberia currently out of work.

Food prices have also been rising, adding to families’

problems, Oxfam said. Meanwhile, details have been given of a large-scale trial of vaccines against Ebola.

The US-funded programme will begin in Liberia and will initially see 600 people getting the vaccine.

BBC international development correspondent Mark Doyle said: “Because of the tragedy of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and the threat it poses to the whole world, a vaccine that would normally take 10 years to develop is being tested after just two.

“And a small west African nation, Liberia, is playing a vital role in trying to solve a potential global health disaster.” -BBC news

SANAA: The United States says it has closed its embassy in Yemen to the public until further notice due to security concerns.

“Due to the recent resignation of the Yemeni president, prime minister, and cabinet, and the ongoing security concerns, the US embassy in Sanaa is unable to provide routine consular services and will have very limited ability to assist with emergency cases involving US citizens,” the embassy said on its website on Monday.

“The US embassy will be closed to the public until further notice,” said the statement issued only hours after a drone strike reportedly killed three Al-Qaeda suspects in an eastern desert area of Yemen.

-AAP news

Kurds defeat Islamic State jihadists in Kobane

BEIRUT: Kurdish militia have driven the Islamic State group from the Syrian town of Kobane and raised their flags, dealing the jihadists an important blow after months of heavy fighting.

Across the border in Iraq, meanwhile, a top army officer announced on Monday troops had “liberated” Diyala province from IS jihadists.

In Syria, the Kurdish advance in Kobane, on the frontier with Turkey, marked the culmination of a battle lasting more than four months in which nearly 1800 people were

killed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) had “expelled all Islamic State fighters from Kobane and have full control of the town”.

“The Kurds are pursuing some jihadists on the eastern outskirts of Kobane, but there is no more fighting inside now,” said the Observatory’s Rami Abdel Rahman. US Central Command said Kurdish forces now had control of 90 per cent of Kobane.

“While the fight against ISIL

(IS) is far from over, ISIL’s failure in Kobane has denied them one of their strategic objectives,” Central Command said in a statement.

Kurdish forces were carrying out “mopping-up operations” against remaining IS forces in the Maqtala district, on the town’s eastern outskirts.

YPG spokesman Polat Jan also announced the news on Twitter, writing: “Congratulations to humanity, Kurdistan, and the people of Kobane on the liberation of Kobane.”

Mustafa Ebdi, an activist

from the town, said the “fighting has stopped”.

YPG forces were “advancing carefully in Maqtala because of the threat of mines and car bombs”, he added.

The US, which has led a coalition bombing IS forces in Syria and Iraq, was cautious, declining to confirm an end to the battle.

The Kurdish advance came after the Pentagon said the international coalition had carried out 17 air strikes against jihadist positions in Kobane within 24 hours.

-AAP news

KURDISH fighters flew the flag of the Popular Protection Units on a hill overlooking Kobane on Monday. Picture: BBC

Solution to puzzle SL0839

stars

March 20 - April 19

Everybody is influenced by the retrograde Mercury. However, because it’s accenting those individuals you deal with on a regular basis, from friends and colleagues to neighbours, their confusion or errors that influence them are having an impact on you. Rather than merely complain, it’s worth working together to find a solution.

April 20 - May 19

It’s true. Sometimes minor errors are best ignored. At the moment, they could easily develop into more serious issues. While dealing with these will, inevitably, stir up all manner of issues, you’re better off tackling these now, before tensions build. After that you’re likely to encounter more serious objections.

May 21 - June 20

Although you wouldn’t characterise one particular individual as taking advantage of others, now that you’re thinking about it, that’s exactly what they’re doing. While you’ve been wise enough to resist their charms, certain friends of yours haven’t. Warn the individuals in question now, before serious damage has been done.

June 21 - July 21

There are few things more difficult for you, as a caring Cancer, than watching somebody you care about make mistakes. But if you’ve already expressed your concerns and explained, in practical terms, what’s behind those feelings, you’ve no choice but to back off. Still, remain nearby, should they need you.

July 22 - August 22

As a fire sign, you generally say what you’re thinking when it comes to mind. Yet you haven’t told one particular individual how much they matter. This is partly because the moment hasn’t been right. But, also, you think surely they must know. Perhaps. Still, some things can’t be said too often.

August 23 - September 22

Having spent a lot of effort explaining to somebody very stubborn their error in a particular matter, you’ve finally won them over. While, understandably, you’re tempted to say ‘I told you so,’ youÕd only be extending the battle, because the individual in question will somehow manage to have the last word.

September 23 - October 22

This is no time to hope for a diplomatic solution. Actually, you’ve tried that approach will little success. Thus you’ve no choice but to address this exceedingly tricky situation in the most forthright manner possible. Worrying as this is, it’s really the only way to get through to certain individuals.

October 23 - November 22

You can be extremely sociable. Yet, still, you keep many thoughts to yourself. This is especially the case when it comes to plans or ideas you regard as strictly personal. While certain individuals could offer superb advice, they can’t give it to you if they’re unaware these matters are on your mind.

November 23 - December 22

Ordinarily you’ve no problem saying no when the situation calls for it. Yet, one or two individuals have a way of turning around what you thought were the most straightforward of refusals. Be wary of this, since with things moving so swiftly, it won’t be easy for you to undo their manoeuvres.

December 21 - January 19

On several occasions you’ve discussed mutually worrying matters with others, but you’re no closer to achieving an accord. This is because they believe keeping everybody on edge gives them the advantage. Unfortunately, they’re unaware all it does is annoy those individuals who, had they been more tactical, would probably be their allies.

January 20 - February

Only days ago you were battling certain restrictions as unfair. Although you didn’t win, you now realise these made sense. In fact, they’re forcing you to concentrate on tedious but important duties that otherwise you’d never have got around to thinking about, and still less, deal with.

February 18 - March

Knowing what must go is one thing. And after considerable reflection, you’re confident about that. What’s next is less clear. That’s fine. Actually, because with the retrograde Mercury causing confusion in even simple plans, whatever you organise is bound to change and change again, youÕll want to ensure there’s flexibility.

Post-Courier

BEREAVEMENT NOTICE BEREAVEMENT NOTICE

Late Mr. Abari Miller Tamarua 29/07/1972 - 26/01/2015

who sadly passed away on Monday, 26th January 2015 at 12:00pm at Port Moresby General Hospital after a long illness.

Body departs funeral home on Wednesday 28th January at 3:00pm for his family residence at Kirakira village (Over-night).

Funeral will be held on Thursday 29th January 2015 at Kilakila United Church.

Late Mr. Abari Miller Tamarua will be sadly missed by his wife Ianeta, children Jennifer, Kaura, Miller and Samual (his first grandson who was born a day after his passing). Also his mum, dad, brothers, sister, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunties & cousins.

Psalms 23: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

RSVP: Mr. Mairi Gaigo on Bmob# 7600 9504 or Mr. Moses Abari on D/cel# 7205 7887 Iagisoh/Bamahuta

GRM International Career Opportunities

GRM International is a leading international development management company specialising in the provision of project design, management expertise and technical assistance to development projects for bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, governments and corporations.

GRM seek to engage highly motivated and experienced people to join our dynamic team at the Education Capacity Development Facility in Port Moresby for the following locally engaged positions:

Logistics

Coordinator

Administration Assistant Driver

Applicants must provide a current Curriculum Vitae; address the selection criteria detailed in the position description; and provide contact details for two referees. The position description can be obtained from http://www.grminternational.com/jobs

The deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday 13 February 2015. Applications may be submitted to website.

Funeral Arrangement LATE OPENI

WALAMATAPERE

WED. 28/01. 11am – Casket arrives at Haus Krai, Kila Police Barracks 2pm – Funeral Service at Kila United Church Overnight at Kila Barracks

THUR. 29/01. 8am – Casket leaves for Hula Village for Burial.

Wala Kopi 7225 0 500 / Ralema Markis-Matapere 7337 1377

PORT MORESBY LOAD SHEDDING SHEDULE

EFFECTIVE AS FROM Tuesday 27/01/15

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.

PNGIPA to Holiday Inn along Waigani Dr to Cathay, Tokarara, Hohola No. 4

Telikom Housing, Pitpit St, Waigani Shopping Centre, Mokoraha Pune, National Bank, NBC Wardstrip, Telikom Rumana, Haus Tisa, Marine Base, Yacht Club, Dock area, IRC, Bank of PNG, US Embassy, Paga Hill.

6 Mile, Jacksons airport, ANG Haus.Airways, CAA, Gateway hotel, Bautama, Kwikila

PNG Power Gerehu, Distributors Ass., Gerehu, UPNG & Art School, Tasion Barracks and Morata 1-2.

Lawes Rd., Post Courier, Le-Hunter Rd. & Koki Point, PTC Exchange, Andersons foodland, Windward Motel, NBC, East Boroko, RSL, Pom High, Taurama Brks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Badili.

Parts of down town, STC HQ. Defence Building, BP, Parts of Ela Beach, Deloitte tower, PNGBC town, MVIT

Parts of Gordons Ind. Area, Hohola, Bowmans, Coca Cola, Steel Industries, Works HQ, Eda Ranu, Stop & Shop,

6 Mile, Magi Highway, Bautama, Tubuserea, Barakau, Gabagaba, Gaire, Kwikila, Hula road

9 mile area, Vitis, CIS, Bomana area, PAU, 14mile area and 15mile area.

PNG Power, Murray Brks, Hohola Market area, PNG Forest HQ, Bishop Bros.

Rouna Quaries, Nebirry Quarries,Laloki Menta Hospital, Police College, CIS College, Nari 1&2, Goldie Barracks, Mt Laws

Parts of 9 mile, Dpi compound, Moitaka, Erima wild life, J Mart, big rooster, Kanage St, Gordons Ridge, Mac Gregger Police Barr acks.

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.

PNGIPA to Holiday Inn along Waigani Dr to Cathay, Tokarara, Hohola No. 4

Telikom Housing, Pitpit St, Waigani Shp, Mokoraha Pune, Nat Bank, NBC Wardstrip, Telikom Rumana, Haus Tisa, Central Govt Ctre

Marine Base, Yacht Club, Dock area, IRC, Bank of PNG, US Embassy, Paga Hill.

6 Mile, Jacksons airport, ANG Haus.Airways, CAA, Gateway hotel, Bautama, Kwikila

PNG Power Gerehu, Distributors Ass., Gerehu, UPNG & Art School, Tasion Barracks and Morata 1-2.

Lawes Rd., Post Courier, Le-Hunter Rd. & Koki Point, PTC Exchange, Andersons foodland, Windward Motel, NBC, East Boroko, RSL, Pom High, Taurama Brks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Badili.

Parts of down town, STC HQ. Defence Building, BP, Parts of Ela Beach, Deloitte tower, PNGBC town, MVIT

Parts of Gordons Ind. Area, Hohola, Bowmans, Coca Cola, Steel Industries, Works HQ, Eda Ranu, Stop & Shop,

6 Mile, Magi Highway, Bautama, Tubuserea, Barakau, Gabagaba, Gaire, Kwikila, Hula road 9mile area, Vitis, CIS, Bomana area, PAU, 14mile area and 15mile area.

PNG Power, Murray Brks, Hohola Market area, PNG Forest HQ, Bishop Bros. Rouna Quaries, Nebirry Quarries,Laloki Menta Hospital, Police College, CIS College, Nari 1&2, Goldie Barracks, Mt Laws

Parts of 9 mile, Dpi compound, Moitaka, Erima wild life, J Mart, Big Rooster, Kanage St, Gordons Ridge, Mac Gregger Police Brck s. Golf Club, State Reception (Waigani) Museum, National Parliament Haus, Supreme Court, Arts Centre,

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.

PNGIPA to Holiday Inn along Waigani Dr to Cathay, Tokarara, Hohola No. 4

Telikom Housing, Pitpit St, Waigani, Mokoraha Pune, Nat Bank, NBC Wardstrip, Telikom Rumana, Haus Tisa, Central Govt Ctre

PNG Power Gerehu, Distributors Ass., Gerehu, UPNG & Art School, Tasion Barracks and Morata 1-2.

Lawes Rd., Post Courier, Le-Hunter Rd. & Koki Point, PTC Exchange, Andersons Foodland, Windward Motel, NBC, East Boroko, RSL, Pom High, Taurama Brks, Korobosea, Sabama, Kilakila, Kaugere, Gabutu, Vabukori, Badili.

Parts of down town, STC HQ. Defence Building, BP, Parts of Ela Beach, Deloitte tower, PNGBC town, MVIT

Parts of Gordons Ind. Area, Hohola, Bowmans, Coca Cola, Steel Industries, Works HQ, Eda Ranu, Stop & Shop, 6 Mile, Magi Highway, Bautama, Tubuserea, Barakau, Gabagaba, Gaire, Kwikila, Hula road

9mile area, Vitis, CIS, Bomana area, PAU, 14mile area and 15mile area.

PNG Power, Murray Brks, Hohola Market area, PNG Forest HQ, Bishop Bros.

Rouna Quaries, Nebirry Quarries,Laloki Menta Hospital, Police College, CIS College, Nari 1&2, Goldie Barracks, Mt Laws

Parts of 9 mile, Dpi compound, Moitaka, wild life, Erima, J Mart, big rooster, Kanage Street, Gordons Ridge, Mac Gregger Police Brks.

Marine Base, Yacht Club, Dock area, IRC, Bank of PNG, US Embassy, Paga Hill. 6 Mile, Jacksons Airport, ANG Haus, Airways, CAA, Gateway hotel, Bautama, Kwikila

Lihir Gold, a member of the Newcrest Mining Limited, operates the world class Lihir gold mine located on the tropical island of Lihir and provides residents with a peaceful and secure lifestyle. Fly-in, Fly-out employees enjoy a 15 day on 13 day off roster and are accommodated in well-appointed camps which include full dining, laundry services, and a modern medical centre. We are currently seeking a suitably qualified and highly motivated candidate for the following position:

Contracts Administrator

RR 2110

Reporting to the Superintendent Contracts Operations, you will be a key player in supporting our site wide contract management systems and procedures and will work closely with our Contracts Owners and our business partners to deliver services safely, on time, on budget and to specification.

Key elements of the role include: contracts.

contract management, cost saving initiatives and cost control methods.

The successful candidate will have: environment.

Senior Process Technician

RR 2158

working in accordance with all safe working procedures.

Key functions of the role include: initiated.

The successful candidate will have:

willingness to encourage others in the area of safety compliance. environment and be a team player.

Coordinator – Workshop & Ancillary Maintenance

RR 2153

maintenance team section and ensure that the plant and equipment is correctly maintained to meet necessary production targets.

Key elements of the role include:

with safety, environment and other policies and procedures by conducting regular monitoring activities. technical direction to the supervisors and crews and setting and implementing daily maintenance activities. and development and performance management.

ahead and communicate shut down.

market best practice, streamlining plant processes and providing input on processes to superintendent. The successful candidate will have: candidates will be contacted. Conditions of employment will be discussed at interview.

Senior HR Advisor - Recruitment Newcrest Mining Limited – Lihir Operations PO Box 789, Port Moresby NCD Fax: 986 5424

RecruitPNG@newcrest.com.au www.newcrest.com.au

The Miner of Choice

BARRICK (NIUGINI) LIMITED

Barrick Gold Corporation is an international company with a portfolio of 19 operating mines and 7 exploration projects located across 5 continents offering global and equal opportunities with a vision to be the world’s best gold mining company by finding, acquiring and producing quality reserves in a safe, profitable and socially responsible manner.

Barrick (Niugini) Limited, the Manager of the Porgera Joint Venture now have vacancies for qualified and enthusiastic individuals for the following position:

ACCOUNTANT, SENIOR

Reporting to the Superintendent, Accounting, the incumbent will join a dynamic Finance team and applies and monitors systems to provide financial reports and financial statements compliant with corporate and statutory requirements and ensures creditors are paid within agreed timeframes.

Key Responsibilities:

financial information (including Joint Venture and Corporate Financial Statements) and staff to ensure timely and accurate reporting and compliance with Group and statutory deadlines authorities to ensure compliance with applicable legislation of mine” data and translate information into financial projections and forecasts of mine performance and related issues and document and improve accounting systems accounting activities and problem solving staff training & personnel related matters, systems development and documentation

The ideal candidate must have: institution qualification with commitment to training

SUPERVISOR, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Reporting to the Accountant, Senior – Finance, the incumbent

Key Responsibilities: setting, measuring performance and encouraging high performance. accounts payable and supply systems. with the agreed timetable. reconciliations and ensure vendor invoice payment are done in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with investigated and cleared opportunity to deliver superior performance. the Financial Controller in accordance with the agreed timetable

The ideal candidate must have: qualification accounts payable with commitment to training business with strong report writing and presentation

SENIOR OFFICER, BIOLOGY

Will assist with managing the systems for biological monitoring,

Key Responsibilities: samples and interpreting biological data the biology database monitoring is carried out to ensure good relations are continued

possible in the field procedures

The ideal candidate must have: programs ecology

SUPERVISOR – AVIATION OPERATION –TRANSPORTATION

will be responsible for the supervision and training of traffic Aircraft Safety.

The ideal candidate must have:

POSITION VACANTS

bmobile | Careers Powering the Change! Vodafone Power to you

Project Field Technicians

Telecommunications field specialists seeking to immerse themselves in a large fixed term Project

Full time employment beyond the project may result from your performance

Must be experienced with construction, installation and rigging work

Professional work ethic, team player and good time management skills Strong leadership talent, interpersonal and organisational skills

Effective communicator, highly motivated, critical and target driven

Key Responsibilities: operations staff effectively operators and crews radios operating cost reductions required MINE SURVEYOR – OPEN PIT open pit production, technical services and project activities. Key responsibilities: survey operations. database. purposes. peers, contractors and suppliers.

The ideal candidate must: environments. Scanners) advantageous.

If you possess the ambition and drive to build a career with Barrick Gold Corporation, forward your application and resume before the 30th January, 2015 to: The Human Resources Superintendent Porgera Joint Venture, P.O Box 484, Mt. Hagen, WHP or Email: PHRCoordinator@barrick.com or Fax: 547 8102; Phone: 547 8912 or 545 3056.

That’s what you want!

Able to travel extensively, preference will be given to Lae, Goroka and Mt Hagen based candidates

Candidates possessing their own tools will be given preference

Holder of City & Guild certifications and current working at heights qualifications

Please submit your applications, including all copies of your current qualifications and up to date academic transcripts to; jobs@bmobile.com.pg

Alternatively, you can post or deliver a resume to; The HR Specialist, Bemobile Limited, PO Box 1055, Waigani, NCD, Papua New Guinea.

Closing date for applications will be the 6th of February, 2015.

OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The Ombudsman Commission of Papua New Guinea is an independent constitutional institution established by the Constitution to protect and promote good leadership and governance in Papua New Guinea.

The Commission operates under two (2) important Organic Laws and these are the Organic Law on the Ombudsman Commission (OLOC) and Organic Law on the Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership (OLDRL).

The OLOC deals with the normal traditional Ombudsman role of ensuring the Government Bodies are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people. The OLDRL enforces the Leadership Code to ensure that all leaders’ conducts and operations are within the precincts of the Code.

The Commission has immediate vacancies for appropriately qualified, experienced and highly motivated people with the personal drive to produce real results. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are of sound reputation and character.

Ela Medical Centre - Radiology Services

Ela Medical Centre is looking to employ two (2) qualified and fully registered Radiographers to immediately join the professional and friendly team at their busy medical practice located at Ela Beach, Port Moresby. Experience in operating a Quantum Medical Imaging System and use of the Carestream Imaging software is preferred but not a prerequisite.

You must be prepared to do shift work including after-hours cover. You will need to be reliable, demonstrate a high standard of work ethic, a self-starter and be able to work independently with minimal supervision. An attractive remuneration package is on offer for the right candidates to fill the two available positions.

All applications to be addressed to the Practice Manager, Ela Medical Centre via email lepasefikahc.ac@gmail.com or PO Box 863, Boroko, NCD. Applications close Fri 6th February 2015.

Training Officer

PNG Forest Products, a leading producer of Timber, Plywood Products, Construction and Retail in Papua New Guinea requires the professional HR services of a Training Officer based in Bulolo, Morobe Province.

Reporting to the PNGFP Group HR Manager, this role will be responsible for planning, developing, implementing and evaluating training and development programmes based at our Bulolo site. The Training Officer must be knowledgeable and familiar with occupational health & safety, machinery and equipment operations, industrial relations and, NATTB regulation and procedures. The Training Officer will also manage a high number of Apprentices, Trainees and Cadets.

The Commission provides exciting and challenging career opportunities rewarded with competitive remuneration and an environment that acknowledges progression based on good performance.

Full details of salary, conditions of employment and job descriptions outlining the selection criteria for all the positions can be obtained by contacting the Human Resource Unit on: 308 2697, 308 2695, 308 2667 or 308 2678.

To apply, forward your application addressing the selection criteria, including current curriculum vitae, copies of qualifications, the names and contact number of three referees to:

THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA GROUND FLOOR, DELOITTE TOWER, DOUGLAS STREET, PORT MORESBY

P O BOX 1831 PORT MORESBY 121, NCD

Attention: Acting Human Resources Manager

Applications close at COB Friday 30th January 2015

Exciting Employment Opportunities now available with the NPCP Legal Department...

The National Petroleum Company PNG (NPCP) holds the Independent State of Papua New Guinea’s interest in the PNG LNG Project, and is responsible for managing the State’s participation in the largest single investment made by the nation to date. With over 16.5% of the equity, NPCP is the third largest shareholder in this world class LNG project. In recent times NPCP has expanded its portfolio by acquiring approximately 10% of the shares of the International Oil Company, Oil Search, as well as acquiring all the assets of Cue Energy in PNG, including their share in the SE Gobe Oil Field. NPCP is now focused on consolidating its position as the State’s nominee in all future Oil and Gas developments, including the probable expansion of the PNG LNG Project as well as Gulf LNG operated by Total. NPCP’s mandate is to protect and maximize the value of the Companies assets such that it can contribute the maximum wealth to our ultimate owners, the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea.

COMMERCIAL LAWYER

Reporting functionally to the Deputy Manager Legal, you will have the opportunity of working in a demanding positon directly for a lawyer of considerable standing. The Legal department works closely with the Technical, Commercial and Financial departments, and you will be expected to proactively interact with members from these different disciplines to produce the best outcomes for the Company. As a consequence of this, you will need to be able to quickly grasp and contribute to a whole range of different concepts and tasks, covering asset management, contract law, banking, government and community affairs, and in particular, oil and gas related agreements, opinions and contracts.

In this exciting position, you will be expected to be able to produce high quality work, sometimes under considerable pressure and against tight deadlines.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

- A minimum of 3 years’ experience, preferably with exposure to the resource sector;

- Articulate with keen desire to learn from your superiors and peers;

- Excellent communication and presentation skills;

- Ability to work under pressure as and when required;

- To be able to demonstrate your determination to move aggressively forward with your career

LEGAL GRADUATE

Similar in every respect to the Commercial Lawyer’s position described above, the Legal Graduate will be a junior member of the Deputy Manager Legal’s team. The intention is that you will learn from your participation in the team so that, in the course of time, you can be promoted internally in the Legal Division.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

- A graduate of very high standing;

- 0 to 3 years’ experience;

- Articulate with keen desire to learn from your superiors and peers;

- Excellent communication and presentation skills;

- Ability to work under pressure as and when required

NPCP offers competitive remuneration and as such prefers its employees to be performance driven and at a minimum have good oral and written communication skills. The ability to work with integrity and reliability in multi-disciplined teams is highly desirable.

To express interest for these challenging and rewarding roles, please send through your application including current CV to The Recruitment Manager recruitment@npcp.com

Applications for all positions close 5:00 pm, Friday 07th February, 2015

Key requirements for this position are as follows: in Training level of customer service management skills skills

Friday 13th February, 2015

If you meet the key requirements as listed above, please along with your up to date CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview. All applicants should apply by email only with Position Vacant – Bulolo Training Officer in the subject line to Group Recruitment Officer Human Resource Department PNG Forest Products recruitment@pngfp.com

HBS (PNG) Limited is a Company in support of the Heavy Equipment, Mining and Construction Industries based in Papua New Guinea.

We have a position available for suitable applicants;

CIVILS ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

Requirements for the role;

Degree or Diploma in Business Management

Must have a minimum of 4 years’ experience in Civils Office Administration

Knowledge and understanding of construction management

Excellent computer skills

Motivated and able to work with minimum supervision

Able to communicate efficiently with all levels of staff

Able to motivate sub-ordinates

PNG driver’s license is an advantage

Key Responsibilities are;

Assumes responsibility for performing assigned administration and related clerical support functions – maintain all Department documents and manage filing system.

Assumes responsibility for effectively researching, tracking and resolving civil or documentation problems and discrepancies.

Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective communication and coordination with project personnel and with management:

Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned

Manage Time Sheet for Civils Department personnel

Carrying out any other duty as directed by Civils Manager

If you have what we are looking for, please send in your application with your CV and all relevant documents to; The Recruitment Team HBS (PNG) Ltd P O Box 958 LAE 411 Fax: 475 8348 HRManager@hbsmachinery.com

Closing Date for all applications is Friday 30th January 2015

* ONLY SHORT LISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED *

POSITION VACANTS

TRUCK

DRIVER REQUIRED

Take the Lead in Caring for Our Environment

Do you have a passion for the environment and experience to provide specialist environmental and social support recommendations to a wide variety of stakeholders?

As Environment Lead we will seek your expert advice to support all environmental issues, impacts and processes on site. You will be responsible for developing and executing the site Environmental Plan as well as leading and coordinating a team of professionals.

About us:

Lihir Gold, a member of the Newcrest Mining Limited, operates the world class Lihir gold mine located on the tropical island of Lihir and provides employees with a peaceful and secure lifestyle. Fly-in, Fly-out employees enjoy good work life balance with a 15 day on 13 day off roster. Our people are accommodated in well-appointed camps which include full dining, laundry services, and a modern medical centre. We provide tennis, squash, swimming facilities as well as a fully operational gymnasium. All employees have access to continuous career and professional development.

Key Attributes you should possess:

A strong customer focus

Ability and confidence in dealing with authorities at all levels of government

A passion to lead and develop a team

A drive to get things done on time

Proven ability to communicate to stakeholders at all levels

Career minded and a want to succeed

Experience and qualifications:

Tertiary qualifications, in Environmental Science, Engineering or related discipline

Proven experience in the creation and implementation environmental plans in resource development projects

Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience Environmental management

Organizational and Project Managements skills

Proficiency in; computer skills (especially MS Excel); database management and financial management

Excellent communication skills in English and Tok Pisin

Bulolo Country Club Manager

PNG Forest Products is seeking to appoint an experienced full-time Country Club Manager to oversee it’s bar operations, general administration, accommodation and kitchen. You will be the first and last point of contact for the members and visitors and as such your experience will be fundamental in enhancing and maintaining a high level of customer service. The successful candidate will “own” all aspects of this role.

Requirements;

experience

qualifications

detail

full potential

Friday 13th February 2015.

If you have the experience and key requirements as listed above, please send a brief cover letter addressing your relevant experience along with your CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

All applications should apply to email only with Position Vacant – Club Manager in the subject line to; Group Recruitment Officer Human Resource Department PNG Forest Products recruitment@pngfp.com

How to apply:

If you believe you have some or all the attributes listed above, Lihir Gold Limited wants to talk to you about this excellent career opportunity.

Give us a call to talk about this opportunity or send your applications to:

Closing date: 12th February 2015

Senior Advisor – Recruitment

Newcrest Mining Limited, Lihir Operation PO Box 789, Port Moresby NCD

Phone: 9865 377

Fax: 986 5424

Email: RecruitPNG@newcrest.com.au

The Miner of Choice

CASA Service Charter and Service Standards Complaints

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASA PNG), has prepared and made available for the aviation industry and the public our service charter, as required by Section 33(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 2000 (as amended). The service charter sets out:

• The general standards of service which you can expect us to provide in carrying out our functions,

• The steps you can take if you consider that these standards have not been met.

• What we will do to “put it right” where both agree that these standards have not been met.

• The options for resolving the matter if we cannot agree.

The industry and public are invited to visit the CASA website at www.casapng.gov.pg/index.php/about/charter to view our Service Charter and also the Service Complaints procedures which provides you the avenue to submit your complaints when any of our services or standards of service to you.

You are also requested to provide us with feedback to assist us to continually improve our process and bring efficiency to our services – and in turn meet your expectations better.

Approved by:

WILSON SAGATI, OBE

Chief Executive Officer & Director

EASTERN HIGHLANDS FAMILY VOICE

POSITION VACANCIES

Eastern Highlands Family Voice is a local NGO based in Goroka, is seeking to recruit suitably qualified and experienced persons for the following positions;

1. Development officer

The person will be responsible for implementing all activities related to fund raising for the organization, Should posses Diploma in Accounting and/or Business Studies with 5 years minimum experience working with Non-Government Organization. Thorough knowledge and vast experience in proposal writing and organizing fund raising events and donor funding experience will be an advantage.

2. Gender Lecturer University of Goroka

Person will be responsible for teaching the Gender study topics at the University of Goroka with 5 years minimum teaching experience at a tertiary level. Thorough knowledge and vast experience in the field gender and development and other related issues

3. Finance Officer

Person will be responsible for maintaining transparent and accurate financial records, procedures and reporting. Should posses Diploma in Accounting and/or Business Studies with 5 years minimum experience working with Non-Government Organization. Thorough knowledge and vast experience in the laws and financial management systems of PNG Government and donor funding experience will be an advantage especially in acquittal processes. The person will also be responsible for preparing and processing of payroll and statutory returns as well as other general finance responsibilities. Proficiency and competency in Microsoft Office including MYOB and Excel is required.

4. Administrative Officer

The Admin Officer will be responsible for undertaking all the administrative duties of the organization and provide overall administrative support to the Program staff and the Senior Management Team. Should hold Diploma of accounting or Administration Diploma with 5 years of direct administrative responsibilities. Person should also posses a current Class Three (3) PNG Driving License.

For all of the above positions, candidates should posses the following attributes;

honesty

Posses high level communication and interpersonal skills, patience and non-directive personality

Person must be of proven integrity and a respectable member of the community particularly upholding family and Christian values.

Sensitive to the issues of violence against women, child rights and child abuse and human rights issues. Information on Job description will be provided on request at EH Family Voice Westpac Building Upstairs Suit 15. Accommodation is not a condition of employment for the above positions.Persons that have

Applications should include copies of curriculum vitae, names of three work referees and copies of Diploma or degrees and send to:

JOB APPLICATIONS

EH Family Voice

P O Box 1641 GOROKA. EHP

Ph: 532 3084 (email: toxinapaya@gmail.com)

Webpage: www.familyvoice.org.pg

Applications close on the 30th January 2015

Ok Tedi is a world class mine located at the head waters of the Fly River system in the Western Province of PNG with more than 30 years operational history and over 2000 employees. We offer excellent conditions and career development opportunities.

We are now seeking suitably qualified and experienced persons for the following roles:

SENIOR TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGIST

Reference: 20150127

Reporting to the Superintendent Riverine Management, you will be responsible for undertaking and manage projects relating to terrestrial ecology and resource availability on flora investigating fauna in Ok Tedi/Fly River catchment.

You will provide botanical advice and support to the revegetation activities undertaken by OTML and will primarily be responsible for managing the terrestrial biology component on any studies required to obtain environmental approvals from the Government for major projects

To be considered for this position, a higher degree (Masters Level or PhD) in Botany or relevant related discipline is required. 10+ years’ work experience in wet tropical environments is required, preferably in PNG, and should have experience in assessing and understanding the environmental effects of mining and mining operations on the environment. Excellent communication, interpersonal and team skills with a proven track record in completing projects on time and on budget is required.

PROJECT METALLURGIST

Reference: 20150127-1

Reporting to the Supervisor Projects, you will be responsible for Concentrator Operations – related projects as well as laboratory testwork for plant troubleshooting. You will ensure that the projects are completed on schedule, and testwork outcome is reported in a timely manner with a high level of detail. You will also ensure a close liaison with your supervisor to maintain a high level of adherence to project and testwork schedules.

To be considered for this role, you must have a Bachelor Degree in Mineral Processing and at least 2 years work experience in a similar role. You must possess sound knowledge of key metallurgical concepts and preferably have worked in flotation, grinding, thickening and crushing operations. You must possess and display initiative, be able to identify problems, possess analytical skills and research solutions. Previous work experience with a multi-cultural workforce, good communication skills, ability to demonstrate sound judgment and easily adapt to operational changes will be highly regarded. You should also be able to work effectively under minimum supervision and have the ability to lead a team.

HYDROGEOLOGIST

Reference: 20150127-2

Reporting to the Senior Hydrogeologist, you will be responsible for issues relating to mine water management across the OTML mine site providing technical support on groundwater and surface water management within the Geotechnical Engineering Team and the wider mine operations.

You will be responsible for providing hydrogeological support and advice including assessments of groundwater monitoring data, surface water and mine drainage, and supervision of hydrogeological drilling programs, including pit wall depressurization. You will also be responsible for timely collection, analysis & interpretation as well as the collation of all relevant monitoring data. This includes ensuring QA/QC on data collection and data entry, as well as maintenance of data integrity.

To be considered for this position you must possess a University Degree in Geosciences / Mining Engineering or related discipline, be a current IEPNG member and hold a current driver’s license. You must have more than 3 years post-graduate engineering experience in the mining / resources sector. Demonstrated experience in open pit and underground mine operations, and understanding of hydrogeological, rockmass assessment and slope designs are highly desirable.

These are challenging roles requiring enthusiasm, a commitment to safety in the workplace and a high degree of self-direction.

If these roles appeal to you, please express your interest by sending your résumé to the Recruitment Advisor, Human Resources, Ok Tedi Mining Limited, P. O. Box 1, Tabubil Western Province, PNG or on e-mail: JoinUs@ oktedi.com or fax it to +675 649 9199 by 11th February, 2015.

Vessel For sale

Charter/Research/Oil & Gas/Coastal Trading Vessel

Steel 22.6m motor vessel in current NMSA survey Huge deck space, accommodation for 20 including crew.

Twin gensets, V12 cat main. In excellent condition, ready for work. Located Kavieng. P.O.A.

Enquiries to 7357 1554

Email: pngsurfaris@hotmail.com

Draftsmen & Estimators

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

RE-ADVERTISEMENT

AND APOLOGY FOR RUNNING INCORRECT PUBLICATION ON 27TH JAN, 2015

Boega Limited (De-Registration)

MORTGAGEE SALE SECTION 91, ALLOTMENT 23

GORDONS - CITY OF PORT MORESBY

Bidders are invited for the purchase of the above property in the city of Port Moresby. Subject property is situated along Avaka Street, Gordons in an established high cost residential area. The land area is regular shaped with an area of 1,028 square meters & on hill side over looking Boroko/Gordons area.

Established on the block of land is a 2 bed room house. Constructed on reinforced concrete slab floor, steel & timber frame structures, handiplank & masonry block walls, hardboard lined & ceiled, adjustable glass louver windows, screened with flywire & security iron grilles & corrugated galvanized iron roof to gutters & down pipes.

Other Minor Improvements

1. Concrete footpaths at various location of the property.

2. Concrete driveway from gate to car parking area

3. Fence approximately 1.8m high chainmesh wire security fence with 1x double manual leaf gate.

Bidders are advised to inspect the property prior to submitting their bids.

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

1. Pay a deposit of 10% by cash or Bank Cheque within 14 days of notification by ANZ Banking Group Ltd (the bank) of acceptance of the tender.

2. To enter into a contract (the contract) on the Bank’s usual terms and conditions within fourteen (14) days of the contract being delivered to the successful tenderer or its lawyers, failing which the deposit may be forfeited.

3. The Balance of the purchase price will be payable upon completion in accordance with the contract in cash or Bank Cheque

4. Bids should be forwarded in a sealed envelope to the address shown below.

5. Tenders close- close of business 30th January 2015.

The Manager Asset Management Asset Management Unit ANZ Banking Group (PNG) Limited P O Box 1152 PORT MORESBY National Capital District.

The Bank is not obliged to accept the highest or any other tender. For any enquires please contact the Manager Asset Management, on phone 322 3384 or 3223381

MORTGAGE SALE

TENDER NO: H0001/2015

South Pacific Post Limited is seeking to recruit suitably qualified and highly motivated individuals who would be interested in the following position:

Sub Editors - (POM Based)

To successfully represent the Post-Courier newspaper you should meet the specifications set below:

Person Specification

Education Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

Essential Skills/Attributes/Abilities

If your experiences, qualifications, skills and attributions fall within the above specification immediately forward your application with full resume attention to the; Human Resources

humanresource@spp.com.pg

(Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview).

Bobby Tabu Director P.O. Box 304, Pom (Boega Limited)

MULTI SKILLS TRAINING SCHOOL

National Training Council Registration No. 055

FROM INDUSTRY… CROSS-TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY.

TRADES LEVEL 1 – 3 COURSES START 2 FEBRUARY 2015 LAE

Diesel/Heavy Equipment Fitting (DHEF), Motor Vehicle

Mechanic, Auto Electrical, Carpentry/Construction, Electrical Fitting, Electronics Technician, Maintenance Fitting & Machining, Metal Fabrication & Welding. 20 weeks per Level.

Course Fee/person: Level 1 – 3 K2450/Level.

TWO-YEAR DIPLOMA COURSES START 2 FEBRUARY 2015 LAE

Building/Architecture, Civil, CADD, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Petroleum Engineering, Business Management and IT/Computing (4 Stages).

Course Fee/person: K2700/Stage K5400 per year (Stages 1 & 2).

Cross-training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other necessary training aids supplied to students. Industrial Attachment/OJT arranged for Level 3 Trades and Stage 4 Diploma students.

INDUSTRY TRAINING COURSES ALSO AVAILABLE – LAE/PORT MORESBY

Dogger/Load Master, Rigging, Scaffolding, Forklifts, Cranes

Operator, Heavy Vehicle Driver Class 3 & 4 Licence, LV/4WD

Driver Class 1 Licence, OHS Officers, First Aid, etc. For registration to do course or courses information contact us on: Telephone: 4727708, 4724939 Fax 4727450 Email: multiskillscourses@gmail.com or Write to P.O. Box 2354

Lae Markets Branch Account Number: 1013239999

0.0000ha)

A non refundable tender fee of K200.00 is charged for each tender application.

The succesful bidders will be contacted direct, and should you require more information, contact the following: Ted B

Recoveries.

Please be advise that Boega Limited is intending to be de-registered.

2015

2015 LEADERS’ SUMMIT

Hosted

PACIFIC GAMES (2015) AUTHORITY SPECIAL SUPPLY AND TENDERS BOARD

TENDER NO: PGA SSTB/1015

The Special Supply and Tenders Board (SSTB) on behalf of the Pacific Games (2015) Authority invites written sealed bids for the Refurbishment of the Medical clinic located at the University of Papua New Guinea funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

Project Name Refurbishment of the Medical clinic located at the University of Papua New Guinea

Reference No.: PGA SSTB/ 1015

Bid Security: Not Applicable

Bid Validity: 90 days

Price of the Tender

Bid Documents Available

Bid Delivery Place

Supply & Tenders Board

Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani

Port Moresby, National Capital District

Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani

Closing Time & Date 5:00PM 06th February 2015

Contact Details Procurement Officer

Operations

Organising Committee (GOC) Office Telikom Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani Ph:300 8700

Instructions to Bidders

Authorized by:

Mr Kostas Constantinou OBE Chairman

PACIFIC GAMES (2015) AUTHORITY

SPECIAL SUPPLY AND TENDERS BOARD

TENDER NO: PGA SSTB/1014

The Special Supply and Tenders Board (SSTB) on behalf of the Pacific Games (2015) Authority invites written sealed bids for the Provision of Site works Management funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

Project Name Provision of Site works management Reference No.: PGA SSTB/ 1014

Bid Security: Not Applicable

Bid Validity: 90 days

Price of the Tender Document

Not Applicable

Bid Documents Available Special Supply & Tenders Board Telikom Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani National Capital District.

Bid Delivery Place The Chairman Special Supply & Tenders Board P.O Box 2015, KONEDOU

Port Moresby, National Capital District

Telikom Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani National Capital District

Closing Time & Date 5:00PM 06th February 2015

Contact Details Procurement Officer

Operations

Organising Committee (GOC) Office Telikom Rumana, Ground Floor, Kumul Avenue, Waigani

Ph:300 8700

Instructions to Bidders

website : www.portmoresby2015.com

Authorized by:

IN THE NATIONAL COURT ) OF JUSTICE AT WAIGANI ) PAPUA NEW GUINEA )

Mr Kostas Constantinou OBE Chairman

MP No. 34 of 2014

BETWEEN:

IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1997

AND:

IN THE MATTER OF PIUNDE LIMITED (1-70-5)

ADVERTISEMENT OF PETITION

NOTICE is given that a petition for the winding up of the abovenamed Company by the National Court was, on the 24th day of November 2014, presented by Associated Mills Limited AND THAT the petition is directed to be heard before the Court sitting at Waigani at 9.30 am on the 17th day of February 2015 AND any creditor or contributory of the Company desiring to support or oppose the making of an order on the petition may appear at the time of hearing by himself or his lawyer for that purpose; AND a copy of the petition will be furnished to any creditor or contributory requiring it by the undersigned on payment of the prescribed charge.

The Petitioner’s address is care of Ashurst PNG, 4th Floor, Mogoru Moto Building, Champion Parade (P.O. Box 850), Port Moresby.

Ian Shepherd Lawyer for the Petitioner

NOTE: Any person who intends to appear on the hearing of the petition must serve on or send by post to the abovementioned notice in writing of his intention to do so. The notice must state the name and address of the person or, if a firm, the name and address of the firm and must be served or, if posted, must be sent by post in sufficient time to reach the abovenamed not later than 16 February 2015.

TENDER NOTICE

BUILDING OF THE COMMODORES ROOM AT LAE YACHT CLUB

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

TENDER

Kamkumung Crushers leads Morobe challenge

Baru and Toua invited to Melbourne meet

WEIGHTLIFTING

PAPUA NEW GUINEA elite weightlifter Morea Baru and Thelma Toua have received an invitation by the Australian Weightlifting Federation to compete at this year’s Arnold International Tournament to be held in Melbourne on March 14.

In a press statement from the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF), it stated that this is the first time that the Arnold Classic International is to be held outside of the United States of America, and both Baru and Toua are lucky to be part of it. For Baru he is ranked number one in the 62kg category in the Oceania and in the Commonwealth.

In addition Baru ranks –one per country – in the top 10 in the world.

He is presently the best lifter, kilo by kilo, of all bodyweight categories in Oceania. The male category will have 15 lifters taking part.

Also in the women section, Toua, being described as the new rising star of female weightlifting in Oceania will compete in the 48kg category.

Toua is ranked number one in the Oceania and her performance presently ranks number two in the Commonwealth – one per country.

IPATAS Cup action in Wau between Blue Heelers and Bulolo Miners.

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY FRANKIY KAPIN

FORMER Coca-Cola Ipatas

Cup champions Kamkumung

Crushers are leading the Morobe challenge heading into the last round this weekend.

After round four last weekend, Crushers lead with eight points followed by Morobe

Chiefs on six, Bulolo Miners, O-Wan Titans and Taraka Redbacks on four points, Jaka Knights and Blue Heelers with three and trailing are the Wau Brothers who are yet to register a win. With the action heading into round five, six and seven, the K10,000 Gold pass challenge winner will be known. But in a twist of events, Morobe challenge

co-ordinator Mona Clyde said the Morobe challenge has been very expensive. Clyde said the introduction of the round robin system this year has incurred more than K100,000 in expenses within one weekend. He said this format must be replaced. Clyde said for the last 15 years, the competition has been played in a pool system that amounts

to at least K20,000 absorbed within a weekend challenge.

He said as such the patron has directed that the management to revert to the old pool system for the rest of the country’s 15 centres that are participating in the initial stage of the competition.

Clyde said the introduced pool system will not carry forward but will be replaced af-

ter completion of the Morobe challenge this weekend.

In last weekend’s matches played in Wau, Chiefs 14 d Brothers 0, O-1 Titans 18 d Heelers 0, Crushers 16 d Knights 14 and Miners 6 d Redbacks 0. In the second match, Miners 14 d Brothers 0, Crushers 8 d Titans 6, Chiefs 8 d Redbacks 6 and Heelers drew Knights 6-6.

Garam Gaung security firm sponsors sports

SOCCER

BY JOSEPH DAWAI

THE Garam Gaung Security Service tournament in the Onga-Waffa Local Level Government area of the Markham district of Morobe ended on a high note on Sunday.

The one-week tournament drew young people to compete in soccer, volleyball and basketball.

Forty-one teams participated in the tournament which saw 22 men teams playing soccer and eight for volleyball while the women took part in the basketball. The local firm has taken the initiative to promote sports in the area since

there were no sporting activities in the local level government area to bring the young people together.

Garam Gaung managing director Kima Paul said every little things starts with a dream and Garam Gaung has a plan to identify potential talent to compete at the provincial and possibly at the national level.

He said the security firm cannot work alone to develop sports in the area unless the community learn to work together in assisting the idea of social gathering and unity.

Paul said the main aim of the

competition is to one day develop a team to reach the National Soccer League level to play in the urban centres in the future.

Paul acknowledge the Morobe MPs for supporting the initiative. The Huon Gulf District donated K10,000 in cash and 50 bags of cements to build the sports infrastructure. The Cup for soccer tournament was donated by Morobe governor Kelly Naru and contributed K10,000 towards the cause.

Provincial minister for sports and tourism Amos Wallace also committed K10,000 to help manage the association as well.

The World Cup is the biggest soccer sporting event and is held every four years. The bottom line

GARAM Gaung Sercurity Service MD Kima Paul delivering his speech during the presentation

MOREA Baru

THELMA Toua

Boxing champs to select squad

BOXING

BY KILA NAO

PNG Games boxers will have a chance at taking on current national squad members in the National Championships that got underway in Goroka yesterday.

With the PNG Boxing Union (PNGBU) set to confirm selections for the justification committee after this tournament, there will be holds barred action over the next two days.

PNGBU president John Avira had confirmed last week that the championship will confirm those that will be vying for a spot for the PNG team that will compete in the Pacific Games.

Avira further ratified that by giving the PNG Games boxers the opportunity to take on current train-on squad members, it will ensure that PNG will be represented by the best on offer. Few boxers who were identified at the recently held PNG Games in Lae and have been put to task against all odds to grab the attention of the national selectors.

PNG Palais geared up for training camp

RUGBY UNION

THE CPL Papua New Guinea Palais training squad will come under scrutiny with a three-day training camp in Port Moresby starting today.

With quite a heavy schedule ahead the PNG Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU) is looking to establish a core squad for several events leading up to the Pacific Games in July.

Up to 30 players have been identified to attend a training camp at the PNG IPA

grounds. PNGRFU general manager Sailosi Druma yesterday confi rmed that from the camp they will trim the squad down to 20 to prepare for the Asia Pacific Cup in Malaysia set for February 28 to March 1. The Palais return and then head to Fiji to take part in the Marist Sevens.

“From both tournaments selectors and coach Elenoa Kunatuba will review the performance to fi nalise a strong team to take part in the Hong Kong Invitational Sevens,” he added.

The Hong Kong Sevens is from March 28-30.

Druma said both the men and women will be taking part in this tournament.

“This will basically fi nalise selections for both the men and women for the Pacific Games,” Druma added. He said that it isn’t confi rmed as yet but the Australian and New Zealand teams may be taking part during the Games as well.

“With the arrival of the technical director for the Pacific Games Talema Wanga arriving next week, I’m

sure we should be able to confi rm the teams participating,” he added.

The PNG Palais training squad: Freda Waula, Menda Ipat, Dulcie Bomai, Carol John, Alice Alois, Robin Ravu, Kymlie Rapilla, Augusta Livuana, Yarowina Morofa, Angela Parau, Joan Lagona, Cassandra Sampson, Patricia Harricknan, Naomi Alapo, Mavis Mitaharo, Geua Larry, Mary Bahu, Heather Ario (Port Moresby), Dorothy Tolom, Elaine Daviona (AROB), Priscilla Rema (Mendi), Amei-

la Kuk (Brisbane).

The identified Under 20 players that will join the camp as well are Natasha Michaels, Joan Piel, Rosalina Constantinou and Paula Aihi.

As there will be a Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa later this year, a host of Under 16 girls will also join the training camp.

These include Bridgette Elias, Minha Cook, Pauline Constantinou, Grace Pitor, Shasi Bahli, Vagi Wari, Clancia Mendepo, Ushana Kapi and Elizabeth Nagi.

Hosts, Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) has five men and six women fighting in their respective divisions. EHP Boxing Association secretary Timothy Gawot said all eyes will be on their local prospect in Glen Mathew who was identified by the PNGBU at the PNG Games in Lae.Mathew will be fighting in the 60kg.

“The other potential from Goroka is Soti Peter who will be fighting in the 69kg weight division plus Esther Sone in the women’s 54kg division,” Gawot added.

“I’m confident that my boxers will test some of those national train-on squad members,” he added.

“NCD, Kairuku and AROB have got strong challengers and is looking forward to the competition with boxers expected to go all out to gain selection,” he said.

Other centers taking part include NCD, Kairuku 1 and 2, East New Britain, West New Britain, AROB, Simbu, Jiwaka, WHP, Enga and hosts EHP.

Keleone all set for Digicel super nines

RUGBY NINES

THE Keleone Rugby Football League (KRFL) have finalised their squad to take part in the Digicel Super Nines slated for February 14-15.

Keleone event director Avis Vanua said the squad was finalised following several trial matches at Wagula Park last week.

“It was a successful rounding off for the Keleone Nines that was staged earlier,” he added.

The Keleone nines squad:

Apolos Pepe (GK Warriors), Alova Varo, Pepena Ila (EA Brothers), Papa Otto (Paramana), Venua Umu, Solomon Kapa (Anoina Development), Norman Robertin (Baukana), Genogeno Kiru (KRR), Arava Manuma (EA Brass), Ravu Voi (Rinarau), Rapila Roa, Kapi Ilimo (Velena Brothers), Ulea Kutu (Nomarina), Paul Olema (Simple Vewala), Ovoa Gairo (KVV).

The team management is Valu Rova (coach), Vagini

Vagini (assistant coach), Ulea Rolu (trainer) and Ravu Vali (team manager).

In regards to the start of their proper season, Vanua said that would be determined by the confirmation of the PNGRFL calendar that would be released at the Anuual General Meeting that is being held at Wabag this Saturday.

However he did confirm that they have 10 confirmed clubs from Paramana to Kelekapana Kwapeupa villagers along the Aroma

Coastline in the Central Province.

They will have teams competing in the A, Reserve grade and Under 19 competitions.

“The schoolboys will also feature this season with several schools already showing interest to take ownership of the game,” he said. He said the KRFL will run the competition but it will be managed by the schools. He further advised clubs to contact KRFL president Ia Vagi to confirm draws. ACTION during the

PNG Palais regular Dulcie Bomai (with ball) in action during last years Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji. Insert: Action between PNG Palais and Fiji

Keleone 9s. Picture: STEPHEN KILA

RUGBY CORNER

Hockey PNG makes stand Locals show interest in PNGRFL

HOCKEY BY KILA NAO

THE selection process for players in the National hockey training squad was done without fear or favor for the best interest of the country.

PNG Hockey Federation (PNGHF) president Kaluwin Potuan said there was no bias in the selections, as it was carried out by the regional selectors.

The selectors are from National Capital District, Lae, Madang, Manus and the East New Britain in close consultation with the Oceania Development Officer Gill Geming.

Potuan emphasized that the process began in 2013 and was further scrutinised during the PNG Games in Lae last year.

“The selection criteria used was based on performance and discipline both and off the field,” he explained.

“A Lae based player was not selected because of attitude problem and we will not have passengers with that of sort of behavior onboard,” he stressed.

“The selectors have done a fantastic job and we are in full swing and the training squads are preparing to attend lead up matches and training camps on the Gold Coast and Cairns well before the Pacific Games in July this year” said Potuan.

The 16 men and 16 women squads will attend their first training camp from February 16 to 19 and followed with an exchange program for five players for both men and women to train and play from March 9 to 30 also in the Gold Coast competition.

The second training camp has been set for May 12 to 15.

Potuan said 12 men and 12 women will attend.

“While on the last camp only 11 players each will travel on June 9 to 12 in Cairns,” he added.

It will be from these camps that the final nine players each (men and women) will be selected for the Pacific Games.

However, PNG Hockey federation is waiting for the funding to be released by the PNGOC for these training camps. Potuan said the training squad is currently doing high performance training on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays, but have yet to confirm a venue for field training.

The PNGHF is negotiating with Cricket PNG to use their indoor facilities for the players to use and train there.

Jiwaka Provincial Govt upgrades grounds

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY JOHNNY POIYA

THE Minj Rugby League grounds have been developed into one of the best in the country.

Under a funding of K400 000 from the Jiwaka Provincial Government, the field has now more than regained its once famous name as one of finest fields by having new fences and a stadium to house dressing room for teams, officials, shower and toilets as well as VIP lounges all equipped with separate bars.

Apart from the K400 000 field funding, Governor William Tongamp has also committed K200 000 for the pro-

vincial team ‘Wahgi Tumbe’ for possible inclusion in this year’s Digicel Cup – bringing a total of K600 000 for Rugby in the province this year.

The field also has an inner fencing to prevent spectators and players going in and out of the playing field at will.

Governor Tongamp said as rugby league was gaining more popularity and being developed at all levels, it was important to have good fields equipped with facilities that would provide comfort for all during matches.

The Minj Oval will become the home of the Jiwaka Provincial team the ‘Wahgi Tumbe’ who have been invited to take part in this year’s

inaugural Digicel Nine’s off season competition.

With the completion of the Digicel Nines, Governor Tongamp said he was prepared to have the Tumbes back in the semi-professional Digicel Cup competition.

The possibility of Minj becoming the home ground for all Digicel competition in the Highlands is high as most provinces faced problems with home ground games, especially last year’s premier team the Hela Wigmen, Mendi Muruks and Mt Hagen Eagles using the Rabiamul Oval in Mt Hagen as their home ground.

Simbu Lions and Bintangor Lahanis had their own

League to elect new officials

RUGBY LEAGUE

THE SP Port Moresby Rugby League (PMRFL) will stage its much awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect its new office bearers for the 2015 season today. It will be staged at the Paddy’s Hotel conference room at 6pm today.

PMRFL football manager Meke Maino said the AGM was deferred from Saturday and is now confirmed for today.

Maino confirmed that the election of office bearers heads the agenda.

He further clarified that all clubs must pay their K500 club affiliation and annual reports to attend.

He said this will be followed by the usual order of the agenda with the acceptance of the minutes of the AGM from 2013 and the tabling of the 2014 football season reports.

Maino said the agenda will also include the plan for the 2015 season, interim chairman Dr James Naipao’s report, the financial report and business plans tabled.

Those holding positions include Dr Naipao (chairman), Wari Varage (deputy chairman), Jack Kedea (treasurer), Simon Sii (business development), Emmanuel Lofena (junior vicechairman), Sebby Lume (secretary).

share of problems with home ground competitions.

The Minj oval, being centrally located and well equipped now possess the possibility of becoming the home ground for any competition in the region should the same problems last year arise with other fields in the region.

“We have to develop and create the facilities if we’re serious about rugby league. We can’t keep on playing in sub-standard fields and say rugby is our national game.”

Governor Tongamp said.

He has further created the Governor’s Cup in the province to create talents along with the several leagues in the province to identify players to

HIGHLANDS Confederation director Joe Tokam said this year will be a good year for their region as a great number of centres in the rural areas has expressed their interest to affiliate with the PNGRFL.

“In the Simbu Province, Suwai Rugby League in Yongumugl Sinesine District will come on board to affiliate to PNGRFL to bring number of affiliates including Kundiawa League to two in the Province,” he said.

“This is good news,” he added.

The new created Jiwaka Province has 14 leagues affiliated to the PNGRFL in 2015.

“This number alone is the highest for one Province alone throughout the country,” he added.

He said Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp has realized that his province has a huge population of youth.

“Especially young men in their prime are resorting to illegal activities cultivating marijuana, making home brew, roaming streets and public places in markets harassing mothers and young girls selling garden crops,” he said.

Governor Tongamp has a vision to mould these young men by way of sports to make them change their attitude to become more productive in their villages.

The Jiwaka Governor’s Challenge Cup competition started during the 2013 – 2014 season with 10 leagues.

“This year an additional four new leagues have joined in,” Tokam said.

The concept of Jiwaka Governor’s Challenge Cup is to use this competition to identify talented players for the expected return of the Waghi Tumbe Digicel Cup team.

He said already work has begun in Minj Rugby League ground early January with necessary amenities in the playing ground to meet the standard field requirements.

Tokam said the Eastern Highlands is running on a adhoc basis, while the Western Highlands reaching the rural communities of Nebilyer, Tambul and Kuk Eve Rangers. They join the established Mt.Hagen and Gomis Leagues to bring total of five affiliated to the PNGRFL in 2015.

The Southern Highlands has five leagues with Mendi, Pangia, South Wiru, Imbonggu and now Nipa Kutubu.

become the Tumbe team.

PNG women’s Hockey team in action during the Oceania Championships last year.

POMRFL interim chairman and former PNG Kumul Dr James Naipao

New coach

RUGBY LEAGUE

BY MICHAEL WARTOVO

FORMER PNG Hunters utility

Albert Patak has taken a more subdued role this year as coach of the Agmark Gurias in this year’s nationwide Digicel Cup competition.

In a new decision by the Gurias board, they have moved last year coach George Tobata back to his old position as head trainer.

Patak, who is more accustomed to answering Hunters coach Michael Marum’s call to

put his body on the line off the bench in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup, will now be barking the orders.

The wear and tear on the body has taken its toll on one of Marum’s ‘go to men’ who played a cameo role with fellow utility players Lawrence Tu’u, Noel Zeming and the ‘Wapenamanda mac truck’ Willie Minoga in a swashbuckling opening season.

The man from Nangananga brings to the team a wealth of experience with trusty assistant Stephen Nightingale, Mar-

cus Kaugla and Tobata on his coaching staff.

The Gurias are currently into their fourth week of pre-season training in Kokopo.

Team Manager Mapua Tamtu said they have retained a bulk of their 2014 squad. “The current 26-man train-on team includes a crop of Guria Academy players plus several from the winning PNG Games nines team that won the gold medal at last years PNG Games,” he said. “To maintain consistency a majority of the players have been retained,” he said.

Cabramatta-bound Clement Kilengit, John Ragi Jnr and Watson Boas are also members of the squad.

Jimmy Peter Jnr who had a short stint with Gulf Isapea the previous season has come back to the side with Kavieng import Lance Kuveu, who had a shortened stint with the TNA Lions last season.

Tamtu said more players will likely be picked up from the current Agmark 9s competition and later the Trukai Nines, before they settle with their final 22 players.

ALBERT Patak with the Gurias Inset: Albert Patak