Post Courier, Friday February 6, 2015

Families suffer

Judge: Relatives suffer most when offenders are jailed

BY SAMUEL RAITANO

FAMILIES of offenders who end up in jail for dipping their fingers in public money will be the victims at the end.

Yesterday, a group of relatives and family members wept open-

ly at the Waigani National and Supreme Court premises as two former employees of the National Parliament were led away to Bomana jail for taking what did not belong to them.

Jailed were former chief finance officer of Parliament Charles Aopi

for four years and former travel officer Lepsen Newe for three years for stealing K150,000 belonging to the State.

National and SupremeCourtpremisesastwo for years former travelofficerLepsenNeweforthree

The two men were placed in positions of trust within the National Parliament, with their responsibilities being signatories to sev-

eral accounts when one simple blunder led to them to losing their jobs and finally ending up in jail.

Aopi has eight children and was still in the process of repaying a loan for the house his family occupied when he got sent to Bomana.

He had served the public service

for 30 years, and was a student working on a degree program in public policy management at the University of Paua New Guinea when he went to jail with his dreams left shattered.

eral accounts when one blunderledtothemtolosingtheir was a student workingonadegreeprogram in

CONTINUED PAGE 2

THE Supreme Court in Waigani, NCD

Families pay ultimate price for crooked dads

CRIME does not pay and the truth hit home yesterday when two Papua New Guinean families broke down in tears and wept openly at the National and Supreme Court precinct.

Their fathers and husbands were escorted out of court and driven to the Bomana correctional institution to serve their jail terms. Charles Aopi and Lepsen Newe were found guilty by the National Court for stealing K150,000 belonging to the State when they were employed by the National Parliament.

The duo were champions in their own right before their downfall, Aopi a bureaucrat with 30-years experience who was studying for a degree in public policy management at the University of Papua New Guinea. Newe, unlike his colleague, is a grade-six school leaver who worked his way up and graduated with a degree in business management after 27 years.

But all that personal sacrifice and glory counted for nothing when they were hauled before the court for stealing and found guilty by the presiding judge, Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika. The judge lamented the impact of the crime, saying “this in turn has impacted on the two families – the wives and the children who are innocent victims”.

Seeing their fathers and husbands leave the court precincts for Bomana would have been heartbreaking for the families and relatives. Aopi left behind eight children and a mortgage for the house that his family now lives in, which the bank could repossess if the family does not come up with an alternative loan repayment arrangement. Newe has three children with his youngest only nine months old.

This is a story that could happen to any Papua New Guinean who betrays the trust of his or her employer as well as the country. Double dipping into the public purse gets us as individuals nowhere and will over the long-term period have dire consequences on the people and the country. Even the families of the perpetrators – as our story today shows – will suffer the consequences and be forced to live with guilt and public humiliation for many years. It is an experience that you would not want to put your loved ones through.

The imprisonment of the two former National Parliament employees should serve as a warning to those in positions of trust. You will pay for your crimes if you are dishonest and improperly apply public funds. If you are witness to corruption report it to the appropriate authorities so action can be taken, as failure to act makes you indirectly responsible for the consequences that follow.

We have come far as a nation and are seven months away from celebrating our 40th independence anniversary celebrations. Revisiting our national pledge to remind ourselves of our responsibilities to this nation and our fellow citizens is perhaps overdue. Condemning, rejecting and reporting corruption in all its forms should be at the top of our list as responsible PNG citizens. We applaud our judiciary and the work it continues to do to rid this nation of this scourge but we as citizens should also do our own bit to compliment the work that our anti-corruption watchdogs are already doing.

The bottom line

How to contact us

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Tropical wet season to continue till May

COMMUNITIES along the south sea coast and in the highlands are urged to be on alert for weather notices as the tropical wet season continues until May, National Weather Office says.

A weather forecast provided to the Post-Courier yesterday explained that the country was currently experiencing the peak of the wet season and this may continue for the next three months with possible moderate cyclone and heavy rains.

This meant that there would be strong winds and rain therefore making sea travel unsafe as well as possible landslips and flooding may occur on high lands.

Assistant director Jimmy

Gomoga said communities in the Coral Sea and Solomon Sea areas are being reminded that tropical cyclone season is still in progress and people should continue to listen to weather forecasts and warnings put out by the National Weather Service. The wet season lasts for

about five months bringing with it active showers, rain and thunderstorms.

“Northwest monsoon wind surges will continue till the end of this month and most probably into early parts of March.

“More rains are expected in the months of March

and April and mostly likely flooding will occur in some parts of the country with landslides mostly likely in the Highlands.”

Records and statistics show that in Papua New Guinea, many moderate cyclones had occurred during the months of January and February, the weather office said. With the country well into the wet season and the ocean and atmospheric conditions showing neutral or average conditions, there was moderate probability of one cyclone developing during the remaining months of this wet season (February-May) within the Solomon Sea and Coral Sea, the National Weather Office said.

Families suffer for loved ones jailed

FROM PAGE 1

THE other prisoner, Newe, had a different story.

From a remote village in West Sepik (Sandaun) Province, he was a Grade 6 dropout who worked his way up the public service and struggled for 27 years to

earn a university degree in business management.

He has three children and the last born is nine months old. He did not receive anything from the money he and his co-accused accessed by signing their signatures on the cheque.

The two purportedly signed the cheque as a favour for another more senior officer who Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika said should be arrested and charged.

Sir Gibbs said: “The most notable effect of this crime on the prisoners is that they have lost their jobs

The highest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica is 14.6 °C (59 °F), recorded on January 5, 1974.

as a direct result of their actions.

“They no longer are employees of the National Parliament.

“This in turn has impacted on the two families – the wives and the children who are the innocent victims.”

RAIN has well and truly descended in Port Moresby

THREE-IN-ONE

Officers: Buai market initiative won’t work

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

DESIGNATED betelnut trading sections in markets proposed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will not stop abuse, National Capital District Commission officials said yesterday.

They insist that the current betelnut ban was the only workable solution to controlling the red spittle and littering of betelnut husks. The ban was already helping city residents change their attitudes, the officials said.

They were compelled to comment following the Prime Minister’s announcement that betelnut would be sold and chewed in designated places in the markets.

the drum

DEADLINE

WONDER how many top bureaucrats met the deadline to send in their annual reports to the Chief Secretary before the start of yesterday’s National Leaders Summit. Those who didn’t should be penalised.

INSPECT

CAN someone from the NCDC health division call into the Pacific MMI building in downtown Port Moresby and do a quick inspection? Tenants are crying foul over the building’s desert-like conditions. Can the landlord be sued for allegedly neglecting his client’s health and wellbeing?

SIZZLES

PRESSURE from customers and the need to fundraise for Cheshire Disability Services in the NCD has compelled the sausage sizzle team to come out of retirement. They will be back at the same place and time tomorrow at the Boroko Food World.

UPDATES

They said this would make it difficult for NCDC to implement the ban.

The officials, who preferred not to be named for fear of repercussions, said the idea of building buai markets had long been debated by the city hall.

“Before the buai ban was imposed in the city, NCDC allocated several existing markets in the city exclusively to sell buai alone. But that did not serve its purpose. Vendors were taking buai to the office doors and public places, selling it to people on the streets,’’ one officer said.

“The buyers buy, chew and spit on to the streets and throw the husk as they go’’.

They added: “If they are

allowing betelnuts to come into the city, then trying to stop it from being sold on the streets will be very difficult. We have to continue with the ban because people have already accepted it and have started to change their attitudes.’’

Furthermore, they said the disbanding of the NCDC reserve police unit by Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki was a wrong move.

“Firstly, the NCDC reserve police were enforcing a law of this city which is legal and they were not directly involved in the Hanuabada shooting. The investigation has not yet been completed and yet he seemed fit to find the reserve police unit guilty of an offence not proven in court,’’ the officer

said. They also questioned the motive behind the disbanding of the reserve unit because the city rangers could not police the ban as the sellers and buyers did not respect them.

“Who will enforce the buai ban laws to keep the city clean into the lead-up to the Pacific Games in July … not his regular police officers because currently half of them are the greatest buai smugglers in the city.

“The other half is made of disciplined officers who are trying their best to assist us in enforcing the ban. Therefore without the reserve police, the city rangers cannot achieve the purpose of this ban if the buai markets are built,’’ they said.

A FORMER scribe got a shock when a newsroom colleague called her asking for an update on the PMGH blood bank. The caller broke down in laughter when she realised her mistake, though happy she talked to the exstaffer after a few years!

SUNSHINE

PNG-OWNED

LOCAL television station

EMTV is now 100 per cent

PNG-owned after Telikom PNG Ltd agreed to pay K27 million for the broadcaster. Previous owner Fiji Holdings appeared happy. Now let’s see how Telikom will incorporate the TV station into its business model.

IT’S A FACT

IT IS embarrassing seeing the Attorney General vigorously defending wanted Indonesian fugitive Djoko Tjandra. The Minister reckons he’s Papua New Guinean but the facts can never change: he remains on Indonesia’s wanted list!

CELEBRATE

HAPPY Waitangi Day to all our PNG-based Kiwi readers! The Waitangi Day is on February 6 every year to commemorate the signing of New Zealand’s founding agreement in 1840: The Treaty of Waitangi.

RAIN WOES

YOU have to feel for the firms building infrastructure in Port Moresby for the 2015 Pacific Games. Over two weeks of continuous rain hasn’t helped their cause. Maybe time to bring out the betelnut and lime pot (NCD governor permitting) to blow away the rain.

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

MEET Mr Sunshine. A canine on the NCD’s Airvos Avenue who loves his sunshine as much as holidaymakers love a tan! Be on the lookout for him when on Airvos, he will roll around on the road totally oblivious to waiting motorists.

Every 60 seconds, your red blood cells do a complete circuit of your body. The bottom line

A VENDOR selling coconut frond brooms, wild foul eggs wrapped in leaves and a live cuscus in its cage to motorists at Five-Mile in the nation’s capital.

Kase outlines health sector priorities

BY MEROLYN TEN

A WELL-EQUIPPED health centre creates a healthy community and stops lifestyle diseases which are killing many young Papua New Guineans, the leaders’ summit was told yesterday.

Health Secretary Pascoe Kase elaborated on this, saying that the health sector had projected to prioritise the free primary health care and subsidised specialist care, and distribute medical supplies and equipment nationally this year.

“With the free primary health care, the Government is committed to ensuring access to basic services for all which the user fees were ceased since February last year.

News Corp Australia chief visits local daily

PAPUA New Guinean’s trusted newspaper the PostCourier welcomed a timely business visit by its parent company News Corp Australia yesterday.

News Corp Australia chief executive officer Julian Clarke arrived in Port Moresby accompanied by Jerry Harris.

Mr Harris is the managing

director of Group Newspapers & Digital Products of News Corp Australia.

The two News Corp heavies were welcomed to a little traditional singsing at the Post-Courier Head office in Konedobu.

Post-Courier managing director Kevin Smith was at hand to welcome both.

News Corp Australia is

owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who also owns 60 per cent of PostCourier shares.

This is the first time Mr Clarke and Mr Harris have visited PNG, especially PostCourier, to see firsthand and discuss the business end of things in person.

Moreover, Sports and Events Minister and MP

for Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko yesterday took them on a first hand tour of all the infrastructure that are under construction for the South Pacific Games. Today they will meet with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Australian High Commissioner Debra Stokes before they depart for Australia.

At a glance

NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA: Is one of Australia’s largest media companies, employing more than 8000 staff nationwide and approximately 3000 journalists.

VISITORS: News Corp Australia CEO Julian Clarke, accompanied by Jerry Harris.

Commission urged to serve with honesty

MEMBERS of the Ombudsman Commission have been urged to uphold positive values to ensure honest and dedicated commitment at work.

In a dedication service held at the Ombudsman head office in Port Moresby last month the members of staff including Chief Ombudsman

The bottom line

Rigo Lua and Ombudsman

Phoebe Sangetari were reminded to wholly dedicate themselves to God in order to successfully execute important tasks this year.

Pastor Martin Beni from the Agape Ministry told the Ombudsman Commission members that practicing the values and portraying the

kind of life that the commission talks about in its plans was the only way to achieve the goals the commission aims to achieve.

“The only people that can produce values are the ones sitting in this room,” he said.

“The Commission is not an individual it is a team

and it is the people that will cause it to achieve its task. It is through these values that you carry out your duties and I know they are inspired by none other than God. In other words you are doing things not of your own accord but with God,” Pr Beni said. He reminded the members

to be dedicated to God and committed in their work.

He emphasised the need for the members to make sacrifices as they uphold the values of the commission.

He said dedication and sacrifice go a long way to achieve planned activities and realising better outcomes.

In 1948, Costa Rica abolished its military and spends the money on education and culture instead.

“Major health infrastructure and equipment projects are underway in hospitals, health facilities, staff housing and training institutions,” Mr Kase said.

He said in the health workforce, the recruiting of trained Papua New Guineans would including the retrenched and retired, the international recruitment of nurses and doctors for the short term, upgrade of health worker training schools and regulatory changes.

Mr Kase said that the essential medical supplies available would be provided to all health centres and medical stores while provincial transit stores would be refurbished or redeveloped to meet the growing needs of the population.

“Provincial health authorities are a key priority for the Health Department, therefore all authorities will work closely with their district development authorities to improve the delivery of health services.”

Mr Kase said church health services were an important partnership and individual arrangements would be reviewed with a view to increase funding.

He said his department’s goal was to strengthen primary health care for all and improve service delivery for the rural majority and urban disadvantaged.

FROM left: News Corp Australia managing director of Group newspapers and digital products Jerry Harris, News Corp Australia chief executive officer Julian Clarke and Post-Courier managing director Kevin Smith being welcomed by traditional Huli dancers at the Post-Courier office at Konedobu.

Miner recognises outstanding employees Malabag supports betelnut ban

THE Metallugical Group Corporation of China (MCCGroup) and Ramu NiCo Management has awarded its outstanding employees with prestigious recognition.

Amongst the recipients were Ramu NiCo’s vice president based at the Basamuk refinery plant, Charles Zha, and the Kurumbukari mine washing plant superintendent, Chen Dajun.

They were recognised as model workers of MCC Group.

These honors are MCC’s high acknowledgements to the whole company and all its employees.

President of Ramu NiCo Management, Wang Jicheng, when announcing the recipients of the awards, said these employees were recognised because they stood the trials and hardships to move the project one step forward under very extremely harsh situations.

Mr. Wang also announced seven-two employees, both nationals and Chinese who received certificates of recognition.

Leniata’s legacy lives on two years after her death

PAPUA New Guineans have been urged to support moves to end violence related to allegations of sorcery and to take action to prevent such horrific and violent incidents.

“Only through the combined efforts of the Government and the public, can we collectively ensure that no more people will be subjected to the same fate as Kepari Leniata and countless others,” the Committee against Sorcery Accusation Related Violence said yesterday in a media statement. It was acknowledging the two-year anniversary of the murder of Ms Kepari, who was accused of sorcery

At a glance

COMMITTEE: Committee against Sorcery Accusation Related Violence.

ANNIVERSARY: Two-year anniversary of the murder of Ms Kepari, who was accused of sorcery and publicly tortured and killed in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province on February 6, 2013.

CALL: Ensure individual criminal accountability by processing perpetrators in a timely manner by the criminal justice system.

and publicly tortured and killed in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province on February 6, 2013.

“The case became emblematic of the violent murders resulting from sorcery accusations in PNG.”

The committee said two years later the perpetra-

tors of this act had not been arrested or prosecuted in court.

“On the second anniversary of this case, this committee would like to reflect on violence related to sorcery accusations in the country and review action taken to address this violence, and

what further needs to be done.

“Countless women, men, and even children have been subjected to brutal violence, death, harassment, or expulsion from their communities due to accusations of sorcery.

“These acts are a serious breach of human rights and violates the fundamental right to life, freedom from torture and other inhuman treatment, as well as the protection of the law guaranteed in the Constitution and international human rights standards to which PNG is a State Party.”

Ms Leniata’s murder led to an outcry against such acts

BY MAUREEN GERAWA

THE ban on betelnut has wider implications than just preventing litter in Port Moresby and includes prevention of diseases such as mouth cancer and tuberculoses.

Health Minister Michael Malabag said it is a fact that the habit of betelnut chewing is a risk to developing mouth cancer.

“PNG has one of the highest rates of mouth cancers in the World. The ban on the sale of betelnut in NCD is a step in the right direction,’’ Mr Malabag said.

“From the hygiene and public health point of view, and the risk to developing diseases, the ban has a positive effect in the long run if implemented and effected well.’’

Furthermore, he said although NCD has only five per cent of Papua New Guinea’s population, it accounts for 25 per cent of the tuberculosis burden of the country.

with some positive steps, including the draft national action plan on sorcery and witchcraft accusation related violence, which was pending approval from the National Executive Council

The committee also welcomed Justice Kassman’s independent inquiry of his own initiative into the circumstances surrounding Ms Kepari’s death as a step towards strengthening responses in the future.

“The committee emphasizes the need to ensure individual criminal accountability by ensuring suspected perpetrators are processed in a timely manner by the criminal justice system.”

“There is also now a serious threat of drug resistant forms of tuberculosis in NCD. Although TB is not directly spread through chewing betelnut, it can initiate an irritating cough in a person with TB of the Lungs and therefore promote the spread. Therefore the ban in this regard should help to control the spread,’’ he said.

Mr Malabag said the practice of betelnut is ingrained in the PNG culture so it is clearly challenging to implement the betelnut ban, thus, it needs everyone to cooperate for a change of behaviour to take place in our population, and that includes ensuring the city is clean for the SP Games.

“The call by the Prime Minister on this note is a wise approach. Mechanisms exists within our Public Health Laws at the different levels to help control the ban and enforce this but this is challenging,” the Health Minister said.

MADANG-based employees who received awards with the company management.

The average person produces enough saliva in their lifetime to fill 2 swimming pools.

offices fail to submit reports

BY GORETHY KENNETH

TWENTY of the 82 national agencies which signed performance agreements to deliver the three priority projects have failed to submit their reports, Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc said yesterday.

He said in his implementation performance report of 2014 that only 10 provincial administrations out of 21 provinces submitted their 2014 performance reports.

“In fact, many of the provincial administrations need to improve on their performance reports in terms of status information they provide,” Sir Manasupe said. “Nevertheless, the performances and achievements vary from province to province,” he added.

Agencies which had not submitted their performance agreements included NIO, Library and Archives, CLRC, Public Prosecutor, Livestock Development Corporation, PNG Ports Ltd, Post PNG, National Social Protection Development Policy, National AIDS Council, PNGDF on relocation of Murray Barracks and Lancron Landing Craft Base, Office of Tourism and Culture, PNG Air Services, National Forest Authority, Office of Climate Change and PNG Sports Foundation.

Sir Manasupe stressed that the summary performance status analysis only focused on the three priority projects agreed to in the 2013 performance agreement, which was signed between ministers and agency heads and did not include other projects implemented.

“At the conclusion of 2014 Leaders’ Summit, some key priority areas were identified by the leaders and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill confirmed them through communiqué,” he said.

Bank hails govt for initiative

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE Asian Development Bank is saying the Papua New Guinea Government should be commended for allocating more funding to priority sectors in its budgets.

ADB country economist Aaron Batten told the 2015 Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby yesterday that ADB was pleased that PNG was concentrating on education, health, infrastructure and law and order in the country.

Batten highlighted that ADB has achieved some recent success in scaling up transport sector impact in Papua New Guinea.

Political stability vital for growth

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter

O’Neill told the Leaders Summit in Port Moresby yesterday that political stability remains a real risk for the economy and continued development of the country. His fears have been backed by two key resource stakeholders in ExxonMobil and Oil Search Limited that investors will think twice about investing in any country with political uncertainty in light of the current low oil prices.

Managing director of OSL Peter Botten said with the current low prices of oil, it will be a challenge to raise capital for the P’nyang and

STABILITY: Political stability remains a real risk for the economy and continued development of the country. Investors will think twice about investing in a country with political uncertainty.

Elk/Antelope and political stability is critical.

“Political stability is a crucial point. When there is pain in the world, pain in the oil and gas sector, it’s very important to operate when political stability is maintained in PNG so that we can move this major projects forward,” the OSL

managing director said.

Mr O’Neill said instability is not in the national interest.

“When potential investors look at Papua New Guinea, one of the first questions they ask relates to political stability and certainty, and policy stability and certainty.

“We must point these investors in the right direction, and assure them that we have a strong politically stable environment.

“I am certain and confident that one thing our people will remember about this term of Parliament and these leaders is that we are well on the way to restoring that stability – and in

the process of ensuring that good government is delivering vital services to our people.”

He said another challenge is to confront the global financial situation, which PNG as a country cannot isolate from the impact of the international economic uncertainties.

“We can and we have taken measures to insulate our economy from global market pressures. This is evident in our LNG sector,” Mr O’Neill said. “Energy prices have declined in recent months and this is hurting a lot of countries and we are feeling some pain in Papua New Guinea.”

Mr Batten gave a presentation on ADB’s partnership with PNG, ADB’s perspective on transport sector and the lessons learnt and future priorities in PNG.

He summarised that there were a number of important lessons for enhancing implementation for the detailed projects in the country, however, there was also room for improvement.

Mr Batten released that the ADB-PNG country partnership strategy detailed $US1.1 billion in loans, $US35 million in Grants and TA and that there has been a significant portfolio growth since 2009, growing from $US350 million to $US1.1billion.

ADB’s active sovereign operations in PNG, by sector include health (7 per cent), PSM and microfinance (2 per cent), transport (land –33 per cent), transport (sea 24 per cent), transport (aviation 22 per cent) and dnergy (12 per cent).

He said strengthening partnerships by working together, donors can leverage resources and reduce burden on Government.

LEADERS at the summit yesterday in Port Moresby

Schools ordered to comply

BY NELLIE SETEPANO

EDUCATION Minister Nick Kuman has issued a stern warning yet again to schools not to charge students project fees.

He warned yesterday after hearing that schools were continuing to charge project fees, despite directives from the national education department for all public schools to refrain from charging any fees.

A frustrated Mr Kuman warned defiant schools to justify to him why they were still imposing fees.

He said schools did not need money from parents and students to operate because fees to cater for all schools needs were catered for through the Government’s tuition fee free education policy.

The Government was meeting tuition fees for schools alongside infrastructure development through MPs’ education component. He added that there was a lot of money around for schools.

“The commodity component for schools is also built into the tuition fee. They will receive all that as tuition fee.” The tuition fees are in the process of being distributed to schools.

“If schools defy this order, they have an issue with

me and the secretary,” Mr Kuman cautioned. Meanwhile in the Eastern Highlands, teachers have been asked to remain in schools they taught at last year.

The Education Department resolved that teachers would remain in those schools until a temporary appointment of a provincial education advisor was made to address educations issues including teacher postings.

Teachers there were confused over postings as 2015 postings were not available before the start of school on Monday.

This happened because there was more confusion over two appointed heads of the education sector. One was appointed by the provincial administration while the other was earlier sidelined and reinstated by the court.

INNOCENT FUN

THESE youngsters were out having fun in puddles left by the roadside when it rained this week in Port Moresby. The wet season will continue for five months, the National Weather office says.

Madang teachers displaced

BY FRANCO NEBAS

SEVERAL hundred displaced teachers in Madang Province are still waiting for the provincial education authority to address their problem.

It is already going in to the second week of the 2015 school year and the teachers have yet to resume duties.

The displaced teachers have blamed the Madang provincial education board, particularly the appointing officer, for the delay.

The appointing officer Julius Ibona is believed to be out at Usino – Bundi attending to a family commitment.

The teachers claimed that Mr Ibona has been absent from work at this crucial time since January 26, and has yet to sort out the displaced teachers. A primary school teacher who has been affected by the delay said it is the base-level teachers who were mostly affected but Mr Ibona was not available to sort out their problems.

Kuman: Contractors report with Education

NATIONAL Capital District contractors who have been waiting for their payments from the Education Department for projects done at city schools are closer to getting results.

Some of the contractors who have been camping outside the Education headquarters at FinCorp House, Waigani, had been assured

that the audit report on their contract awards was with Education Minister Nick Kuman. He said this week that the Finance Department audit report had been rechecked during the past three months and presented to him early this week. The report will be forwarded to Cabinet for deliberation and made pub-

lic after that.

In September last year an audit report was sent to the Finance Department for verification after it failed to address what the minister described as high level of corruption in awarding contractors to Education Department service providers. Parliament had been told that contracts ran into

more than K300 million and uncovered claims that more than 50 per cent of the contractors’ claims were bogus. The report failed to recommend action against the high level of corruption that took place in the procurement and accounting process.

Mr Kuman said the revised audit had addressed these shortfalls.

If schools defy this order they have an issue with me and the Secretary ...

MINISTER NICK KUMAN Port Moresby

Kandep trial begins Taxi service prospers in Kokopo

BY MICHAEL WARTOVO

THERE were no taxi services in the past but that is not so anymore in Kokopo town, the capital of East New Britain Province.

Today, one can easily notice cars with cabs that usually park opposite the Kokopo market every day.

The increasing demand for taxi services over the years in Kokopo has ensured that the service is one of the fastest growing in this town.

Henry Eremas from Talakua ward in the Raluana local level government area of Kokopo district is the owner of Sori Boko Taxi Service, one of those many taxi businesses serving the growing town of Kokopo.

He started his business last year and now has five cars which include three double cab Ford Rangers and two Honda CRV cabs.

Public servants warned not to take what is not theirs

BY SAMZEL RAITANO

GOVERNMENT officials, MPs and public office holders have been warned not to dip their fingers into public monies. Deputy Chief

Justice Gibbs Salika stressed this when sentencing two former parliament workers to jail for taking money belonging to the National Parliament. “Government officials, MP’s and other

public servants should not dip their hand into something that does not belong to them.

“You have to be responsible with government monies… I view this type of

behaviour very seriously,”

Justice Salika said.

He said those in the position of trust should not abuse it, adding that politicians and public servants have been sent to jail for

such crimes and the court would not tolerate others who have similar matters pending in court. Salika said a single act of dishonesty destroys all the good work one has done.

BY SAMUEL RAITANO

A SENIOR Electoral Commission officer involved in running the Kandep Open voting during 2012 General Election was cross-examined yesterday at the National Court in Waigani.

The matter before the court was to establish facts surrounding the appointment of an assistant returning officer. The trial resumed at 8.30am yesterday when deputy elections manager took the stand and was immediately bombarded with questions by petitioner Alfred Manasseh’s lawyer.

The court heard the witness’ account of what time the polling took place, when the ballot boxes were taken to Wabag town for counting, and who was the proper RO appointed to run the election in Kandep.

It was also told who the Electoral Commission headquarters in Port Morseby had appointed to run the operation in Enga Province.

Questions relating to the gazettal of the returning officers and their assistants and the alleged last minute changes to the RO position for Kandep were answered by the witness.

Polye calls for calm

THE people of Kandep have been called on to remain calm while the election petition by Alfred Manasseh goes into trial stage.

Kandep MP and Opposition Leader Don Polye made the call while welcoming the decision of the Supreme Court early this week in dismissing his application to challenge a National Court decision that had the matter proceed to trial.

Mr Polye urged his mem-

bers, executives and the supporters of THE party nationwide to have confidence in the style of leadership that he provides under difficult circumstances.

“They should not be moved by situations at hand because they are manageable. They have to concentrate on their daily endeavours to sustain their living,” he said.

Mr Polye said everything like his sacking as a deputy Prime Minister or losing

court battles was normal to his life.

“Life is a challenge-bound journey and one’s personality is shaped through hard times. I have not been swayed by these circumstances because I am focused in performing my new role as the Opposition Leader,” he said.

He reiterated that he would continue to fight corruption and other issues affecting the country.

Western Province manager in jail

BY DONALD WILLIE

FOLLOWING the arrest of his boss, the Western Province Administrator Modowa Gumoi was arrested, questioned and placed in the Boroko Police Station cells.

Mr Gumoi was arrested and charged on 12 countsfour counts of abuse of office, four counts of conspiracy to defraud and four counts of misappropriation of public funds totalling up to K 7 million.

The complaint was made by the people of Western Province through their community leaders and the arrest of Norman May, Governor Ati Wobiro and the acting provincial Administrator Mr Gumoi is a result of many months of

REMANDEES: Those questioned and put in jail are Western Province acting Administrator Mr Modowa Gumoi, Fly Care Foundation Inc boss Norman May and Western Province Governor Ati Wobiro, who is out on K20,000 bail.

REASON: The remandees are put behind bars for misapplying public funds and abusing public offices as alleged by the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate.

investigation by the national fraud and anti corruption wing of the police.

It is alleged that a joint provincial budget priority committee (JPBPC) comprising three Open Members of South Fly, Middle Fly and North Fly was convened on November 21, 2013 to approve projects, which the three Open Members deny attending.

The list of projects purportedly approved by the JPBPC was referred to the acting provincial administrator Mr Gumoi who was instructed by the Governor to facilitate the funding of the projects by implementing the deal between Governor Wobiro and Fly Care Foundation Inc. Investigations conducted by the National Fraud &

Anti-Corruption Directorate revealed that many of the projects for which funding was channelled through Fly Care Foundation have not been implemented.

The public funds in PSIP, DSIP and LLGSIP were parked in a private account under the control of a private individual outside of the public accounting systems and not subject to public audit.

Norman May of Fly car foundation and May field distributors was arrested and charged on January 22 on similar charges.

Governor Wobiro was arrested and charged on Monday February 2 on similar charges and four counts of abuse of office, but was released on K20,000 bail.

DON Polye

SORI Boko Taxi drivers Lance John (left) and Richard Ruben at the side of the cabs they drive.

Police get timely boost from China

BY DENYSE KALAU

POLICING in the nation’s capital has been boosted with the official presentation of equipment to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).

A total of 20 motor bikes and 10,000 police uniforms were presented by the Chinese Government to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary yesterday with the aim of improving policing services throughout the city.

Deputy Police Commissioner for Administration Awan Sete who was present at the official signing and handover ceremony of the equipment said the force is very grateful that the Chinese Government through its embassy has offered valuable assistance in the form of motor bikes and uniforms to boost the morale of the force.

Mr Sete said there is a need to provide adequate

transport policing services to crack down on crime rates in the city, especially in the days leading up to the Pacific Games which is schedule to take place in July.

He added that the presentation of these resources is very timely as it will not only be utilised by police men and women in their training but rather be used to improve escort duties and security to our international guests who will be attending the Pacific Games in July.

Ambassador for China Li Rui You when presenting the equipment said that the increase in population in the country is one factor that calls for more equipment and logistics to assist the police officers in cracking down on law and order issues.

Ambassador Li on behalf of the Chinese Government handed over the equipment to RPNGC to improve and strengthen policing services within the force.

Allen: Use funds wisely

BY GRACE AUKA SALMANG

MONEY allocated by the national Government must be spent for projects that are earmarked for districts and not to just present paper acquittals without proper reports, says Member for Unggai-Bena and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Benny Allen.

Mr Allen presented his district’s 2014 acquittals yesterday and challenged his fellow MPs to use their funds wisely for their respective districts.

He said developments in his district had already begun with Unggal-Bena district headquarters office built in Goroka.

“The idea began in 2009, the office complex now houses the treasury and the district administrators with 12 staff houses already built.

“We aim to build 20 houses, police station, banking facilities and post office this year,” he said, adding that he had already secured K10 million from the National Government for feasibility studies to start the projects.

“This year, the Government has given another K5 million,” Mr Allen said. Other development projects and priority projects are the new Unggai-Bena High School. This will cost about K8.5 million.

DEPUTY Commissioner Awan Sete Chinese thanks Ambassador Li Rui You

POLICE SHOULD PAY

A NY latest on the police killings at HB? These policemen should pay for what they have done. The Government should not pay the K10 million. Whoever pulled the trigger should pay. His savings and entitlements should be given to the v ictims’ family, and then stood in f ront of a firing squad.

Past Victim

KOKI’S DILEMMA

KOKI Market is completed, except for the fi sh market which is still under construction.

Congratulations to Port Moresby South MP for a wonderful achievement and foresight in providing the people of his electorate such a state-of-the-art design. Tables for vegetables sellers and cubicles for cooked food and store goods vendors.

Of all the good things listed above, the sad thing is the cubicles are said to be lent out to BSP, Westpac, Paipon Store and Chinese business entrepreneurs and of course, a few Papua New Guineans. I was adv ised of the above when I enquired on the possibility of getting a cubicle for my wife who is from Central and we reside at Badili.

This is the part that does not equate to the National Government’s SME policy. The National Government’s much talked about SME policy through the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry may have passed the member for Moresby South and not noticed. Does the right hand of the Government know w hat the left hand is doing, may I ask?

The above is what I was told was planned, we have to wait and see w hat the Member tells us as none of the cubicles has opened for business as yet.

My advise to the Member is that this market belongs to the grassroots and should remain a grassroots market where they can compete on the same level.

Santos SME Advocate

Your opinions

US

I AM looking for Mr Greg Nigel Philemon of Alotau (Woodlark Island) who resides somewhere in Port Moresby. If anyone knows him or knows his where about, please call me on mobile phone:

739 21 259 or 714 83 395

Kwekweina

Maiwori

re-think West Papua

SAMUEL H Basil’s oafishness can be tolerated up to a point, but certainly not on this 53-year cancerous case.

All PNG politicians need to take a leaf from Gary Juffa, Powes Parkop and Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Joe Natuman.

The PNG Ambassador to the United Nations (in New York) must not think West Papua is a side issue.

It is the Melanesian issue of the decade. Papua New Guineans are not going to continue to take the observers’ back seat (as has been the case for many years) and allow the folly of some multinational corporations and double talk peace keeping agencies to devalue the lives of our brothers and sisters of West New Guinea.

While Henry Kissinger is still alive, PNG’s UN ambassador must make it his business to get the United States and the UN to right their wrongs of the 1960s. United States’ UN Ambassador Rice, is a democrat. The Republican President Richard Nixon and his foreign secretary at the time (Henry Kissinger) sold West Papua to the Indonesians. At the moment, the United States administration (Democrat led) is reviewing its 50 year-old diplomatic position with Cuba. Therefore, it’s pertinent that the West Papua issue be elevated to higher levels of importance by PNG’s UN Ambassador and mobilise support accordingly. This is because President Richard Nixon and Kissinger sacrificed West

Papua on the same fears of communism’s expansion in this part of the world in the 1960s.

Diplomatic sanctions on Cuba are being lifted by the United States government. And there is free movement of people and information between these two countries after Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. PNG and the rest of Melanesia need to up the pressure on the UN and the United States to review the socalled Act of Free Choice for West Papua now. Let the mighty Pacific Ocean roar this decade. We must let freedom ring on the hills of West Papua this decade.

Corney Korokan ALONE Freedom West Papua Supporter

WRITE TO US Text us on 208

Can banks lower their rates?

Letter of the day

OURS is a capitalist world where for corporations, profit means everything. It is what some say, makes the world tick. A world where individuals strive to make their hundreds of thousands if not millions, while corporations expand and extend their greedy tentacles to make tens, or hundreds of millions for their shareholders. All this at the expense if not, demise of another person or entity in a cut throat world. The question no CEO will dare answer directly is how much profit is enough profit !

In PNG there are corporations that have continued to, and, will continue to make hundreds of millions of kina under the old premise of “the high cost of doing business in the country forces us to charge fees that are way higher than those that are being charged in our neighbouring countries”. Those in the banking world will no doubt continue to use that byline as defense from criticism directed at it by either the public and or small to medium business houses throughout the country for their exceptionally high interest

lending rates. Interest rate margins, which, according to Professor Satish Chand are very high when compared with countries of similar development level to PNG and neighbouring countries, while speaking during a recent workshop hosted by National Research Institute (NRI) and the Bank of Papua New Guinea. Two organisations who without doubt are qualified to speak in such matters.

BPNGs' assistant Governor, speaking as an individual at that same workshop, couldn't have put it any better when commenting that commercial banks have been making large profits.

The executive is reported to have said: “Given the point on profitability, my personal comment is this while commercial banks say the cost of doing business is high in PNG, there are risks and so on, can the banks reduce interest marginal rates on lending and deposits? You can still reduce it a bit and still make profits.” While I couldn't agree more, this writer says banks can reduce their interest rates a “whole lot more” and still make heaps of profit.

It’s a wonder that we as a people are so naive and continue to accept what I see is the dictatorial

Text us on 208

attitude of our banks in this country. If anything, I note that after my last letter to the editor about burdensome bank charges that are imposed on individual customers, BSP has come out offering a whole lot of different bank accounts it claims customers can now apply for that are tailored to suit individuals in different circumstances. Thank you BSP for your fast response in record time. Can't say the same when waiting forever in a cue to see your tellers at your banks, though.

There is an old saying in the business world, “corporations like banks don’t love, they don’t hate and neither do they have feelings. They know only one word.Profit.” Have our banks become so blind by that word, they have become insensitive to the needs of the ordinary people or the owners of those small to medium business houses, who are burdened by high interest rates and are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. I say wouldn't it be nice if the banks could lower their lending rates just little lower in 2015.

Frank Nouairi NCD

Let’s amend ‘Look North Policy’

OUR country is another Eden. However, as a public policy graduate, I regret to unveil some of the facts that must be gawked.

50 per cent of the total population in PNG live below the poverty line (result)

65 per cent of businesses are operated by Asians (look North Policy)

40 per cent of cash are shipped out of PNG every four months by Asians (look North Policy) Now,

10 years ago

policies are meant to be amended or replaced as as situation and time changes’.

Thus, the government must make amendments to this Look North policy and adopt the Isolation Policy which will be a push factor for Asians to leave or repatriate.

To substantiate isolation policy, look at Japan’s isolation policy or the ‘Tokugawa Period’ after World War 2. Did they succeed? Yes.

To clarify my idea, the govern-

PM IS DOING WELL

THE Prime Minister is achieving more than expected in less than three years. The PM needs more time to ful fi l his dreams to make PNG reach global status as an economic power in the region. Given more time, Mr Peter O’Neill will achieve more for PNG. Who says it is impossible to achieve such feats? It is our mindset that has set us backward. Instead of thinking positively, People of PNG have always been given the back hand and the attitudes of our people need to change in line with our PM’s and other similar thinking leaders who have against all odds achieved greater heights in such short time. It is time we start thinking positively to help ourselves. We have to start doing away with attitudes that set us backward. Drinking to the last toea, gambling, womanising should be things of the past. Investing in our children.

The Government has taken the broad stand to help us with freeeducation, free-health care and is improving infrastructure to help our people live better lives. It is up to us as citizens to help ourselves live as responsible citizens of this beautiful nation by making use of the opportunities presented to us economically.

Augustine A. Kerapali Kiunga, W.P

ment of PNG must import great wealth of knowledge (doctors, lecturers, car-makers from Japan, computer scientists for the US, etc.) who can help us in our nation building and not those who can capitalize on us.

Real Papua New Guineans must respond to this statement.

SOLVE ID ISSUE

IN 2013 I graduated as year 12 student. The following year I was accepted as an external student at UPNG NCD Open College to study C.T.CS (Science) and Applied Finite Mathematics (A.F.M) and so I studied for both semesters. During registration I wasn’t given my student ID number although I had fully paid the fees. Since last year until today I have been enquiring regarding this matter but nothing has

been done about it. It’s now 2015 and I’m still waiting for my student ID number which will enable me to receive my Transcripts. Based from observations and instructions taken from those working in the NCD Open College administration of fi ce, they seem to not know there way around their job which makes me curious if they’re quali fi ed or not. Can the Director of NCD Open College look at this matter and do something about it as it is a issue of the past years based on the petition that was held last year by our senior students. The more delays the more you affect us by taking away our right to continue our education. I write this on behalf of all my fellow colleague’s who have experienced this issue.

Frustrated student still waiting

DRIVING LESSONS

WE have children who are attending schools and many walk to and from schools, along roads. It is heart breaking for the family of the young men killed by a speeding vehicle along the HIghlands Highway in Jiwaka (03/02/15). And the death and injuries to those in Togoba, WHP, because a careless PMV driver lost control of his vehicle. We have seen many road side accidents causing deaths. What can we do to minimise of prevent such happenings in future. Some suggestions are put here for considerations as:

HAVING speed bumps, at every school, village, market place, community gathering place across PNG.

AWARENESS and driver training to made compulsory for all drivers in the country must attend, as a requirement to obtaining their licenses. I offer my condolences to these youths families.

Alois Pen Nomenda NCD parent & resident.

Hawaii is moving towards Japan at the speed of 10cm a year. This is because they are on different tectonic plates.

When we took government in 2012, a lot of When we took government in a lot of you will know that state of the nation, now you you will know that state of the nation, now you see plenty of changes because we now have see of because we now have committed leaders in government. committed leaders in government.

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill sticking to District Services Improvement PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill to District Services Program Program.

Noah Nugi, T Miles, UPNG.

Army appoints new colonels

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force will now have four new branch heads that will support the commander in implementing his 2015 intent and priorities of the force.

The four new colonels are Siale Diro, Wenzel Esekia, John Rakatani, Dominic Bolongor and Ben Siria. The four new Colonels were promoted last Friday by the Defence Council at Murray Barracks command officers mess in Port Moresby.

Colonel Siale Diro now take his position as the new PNGDF chief of operations, Colonel Ezekia now resumes as the new joint force commander, Colonel John Rakatani takes his post as the new PNGDF chief of personnel and Colonel Siria now takes the post as the chief of logistics replacing Colonel Carl Wrakonei.

All these newly appointed branch heads have a wider range of military knowledge, skills and experience .They are all qualified masters graduate of overseas military staff colleges.

The Defence Council, which is made up of Defence Minister Fabian Pok, Defence Secretary John Porti and PNGDF Commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo, has appointed these new branch heads based on their confidence and trust on their wealth of military experiences and knowledge .

Mr Pok on behalf of the government and the Defence Council congratulated the new branch heads and said that the government and the force have trust and confidence in them to provide strategic guidance in rebuilding and transforming the force forward.

Students get assistance

MORE than 400 Milne Bay students at various tertiary institutions around the country will be assisted with their tuition fees by the Milne Bay Provincial Government. The provincial government, through the provincial services improvement program (PSIP) funds, allocated K1 million to help Milne Bay students attending tertiary institutions this year.

Because of the slow budget process with the national Government in releasing the PSIP funds early, the provincial government again decided to transfer funds from roll-overs for projects and commitments from 2014 to meet the school fees assistance commitment.

This has meant that payments of the fees for the students that had

applied for assistance can be paid into the schools’ accounts earlier.

The Milne Bay Tertiary Assistance Scheme committee has decided to give K2500 each to the students whose applications for assistance have been approved. So far 409 students have been assisted.

Committee chairman and principal adviser for education Roma Tuidam said the committee is still receiving applications and a request has been made to the provincial government to allocate another K350,000 for this.

Mr Tuidam said the K2500 being paid by the provincial government to the successful applicants are only part of the parent’s components charged by the various schools and parents, in most cases, need to do their part to complete the fees.

THE new colonels at Murray Barracks following the announcement of their appointments

School celebrates milestone

BY MICHAEL WARTOVO

A PRIVATE school in East New Britain Province has celebrated its 15 years of operation this week. The event coincided with the graduation of its students who received diplomas in various fields.

The Elirana Electronic Technology School is affiliated to Penn Foster College in the United States of America.

It is a distance learning institution and yesterday saw 10 students pass out.

The graduates received respective diplomas in Electrical Technician, Tele Communication Technician, Computer Repair Technician, and Draft with Auto Cad courses.

The only female student, 22 year-old Stephanie Essau from Nangananga village, also received her diploma in Electronic Technician after completing her two years of studies.

Kimbe mothers to start rural tech courses

BY SAMUEL RAITANO

ILLITERATE women in West New Britain Province will now be able to study rural technology courses once their learning centre is completed, hopefully by March this year.

Governor Sasindran Muthuvel, who sent six women to the Barefoot College in India to study solar engineering last year, said work was underway to establish a branch in Kimbe.

Governor Muthuvel said the mothers are in their

Highway to link Goroka, Madang

BY JUNIOR UKAHA

AN alternative highway that will connect Goroka to Madang was launched yesterday.

The 53km road, which will run from Dunantina LLG area in Henganofi to Ramu, will take six months to complete.

Locals witnessed a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at Numiyafa Village by Henganofi MP, Robert Atiyafa.

“Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has given me the green light to build this road,” Mr Atiyafa said.

“Once completed, it will become an alternative highway that will link Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces,” he added.

Mr Atiyafa, who is also the Police Minister, said the Asian Development Bank had prioritised this project which would benefit more than 5000 people.

The road will be built by the Henganofi district works unit. The unit has mobilised its earth-moving equipment and had camped in the area since last week. The road will be funded through the Henganofi DSIP funds.

TECHNOLOGY COURSES: Illiterate women in West New Britain Province will now be able to study rural technology courses.

COLLEGE: Six women were sent to the Barefoot College in India to study solar engineering last year.

KIMBE BRANCH: Work is underway to establish a branch in Kimbe.

SASINDRAN MUTHUVEL: He is the Governor for WNB Province.

villages setting their workshops while the Barefoot College Training Centre is under construction.

He said the provincial government has spent

about K500,000 for the project. The training centre will have accommodate 30 mothers and a trainer, a storage building and other necessary facilities.

The provincial government hopes to light up rural homes with solar energy, but the cost of solar kits was an issue.

“We are negotiating with the Barefoot College in India while the building here is under construction, however, we feel the price per unit of US$270 (K707) is too high though it comes with full set for a house (lightings only), we still have to pay customs duty/ tax and transport cost.

“We have started negotiating with another local supplier, Barefoot Solutions,

LO company appeals for respect

BY SHIRYLN BELDEN

LOCALS in the Bewani/Wutung

LLG area of West Sepik Province are appealing for respect from a foreign company that was contracted to utilize their land.

The Bewani Palm Oil Development, a landowner company representing the 124 ILGs, claim that a Malaysian contractor, whose sublease was terminated last October, has not complied with the landowners’ orders to move out.

According to chairman Bob Namah, the foreign contractor, under the company name of Bewani Palm Oil Plantation, was supposed to move out of the area after it breached several areas of agreement but had so far disrespected the landowners’ notice to move out.

The chairman said as a foreign contractor, Bewani Palm

Oil Plantation should respect the people’s interests and comply with their request to move out as they fully hold the right to their land.

In a press conference this week, Mr Namah and his directors appealed to the contractor to move out or face legal actions.

“Since the project commenced four years ago, the sub-lease holder has failed to comply with or satisfy important requirements under the terms of the project agreement. Numerous

reminders and demands for the contractor to observe have been completely ignored.

“These breaches has eventually forced us landowners through our company, Bewani Palm Oil Development, to terminate the sub-lease,” Mr Namah said.

The Bewani Oil Palm Plantation was granted a sublease to clear trees and develop an oil palm plantation.

When contacted yesterday, general manager of Bewani Palm Oil Plantation, Paul Wong, confirmed that a termination of lease was given to his company.

Mr Wong said his company has obtained a restraining order to prevent them from moving out but could not clarify on the breaches his company was accused of.

Mr Namah said the termination of the contract was based on lack of development.

to supply materials and support the training so we can implement the project for the first three villages where the six solar mothers came from and eventually spread to other villages. Mr Muthuvel said.

“We will update once we successfully finalise the purchase of the first 1775 units to cover three to five villages,” he added.

He said the provincial government is also planning to partner with local distributor Hardware Haus to subsidise the cost to oil palm growers.

Places that will directly benefit from this highway construction include; Numiyafa, Kese, Taru, Kuzahapa, Hoflo 1, Hoflo 2, Brimumpi, Kanofi, Abigesa and Reona.

Numiyafore community leader, Misek Borogau, reminded the people not to demand compensation unnecessarily from the State during the construction phase.

A highway is any public road or other public way on land.

It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks:

It is not an equivalent term to freeway (motorway).

THE UNIVERSITY OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

NOTICE TO NEW AND CONTINUING STUDENTS 2015

This is to advise parents and students that University of Papua New Guinea Academic Year 2015 will begin in March. Please take note of the following points below.

Arrival for new students

New students must start arriving on the 1st of March 2015. New students who arrive before this date will have to nd accommoda on outside of the campus un l 1st of March. on nuing students must start arriving on the campus on the 7th March 2015.

rienta on rienta on for new and re enrolling students will be conducted on the rd of March 2015. t is important that new students must a end.

ool ee a ent All fees must be paid before 20th February 2015. The account number is UPNG

TU T N F A UNT 10005 01 P A GAN AN

e istra on egistra on for new and re enrolling students commences on the 5th of March 2015. on nuing students register on the th of March and con nue to the 1 th of March. owever early registra on will start on 2 rd February 2015.

o en e ent of lasses

lasses for academic year 2015 start on the 1 th of March 2015.

radua on Gradua on 2015 will be on the 10th April 2015

ool of u ani es and o ial ien es lis n for stud t rou ternal ode as een sent to t e res e ve en olle e enters lease e wit t e nearest en olle e enters

GRADUATING students with school director Elijah Turana (centre) after receiving their diploma certificates.

These breaches has forced us landowners to terminate the sub-lease

BOB NAMAH West Sepik Province

GOING HOME

LITTLE star retuning from school under his umbrella followed by his mother. Today marks the end of the first week of school for children throughout the country, like this litle champ. Picture: KENNEDY BANI

PNG church prepares for visit from Israel

BY DENYSE KALAU

THE Papua New Guinea International Christian Embassy to Jerusalem have launched a program for awareness and fundraising this week towards the visiting guest of International Christian Embassy from Israel.

The launch of the awareness and fundraising is towards ICEM director Reverend Juha Ketola, who will be visiting the country this month from Jerusalem in Israel. Body of Christ and other church leaders witnessed the event as Reverend Joseph Walters cut the ribbon to signify the launch of the program.

PNGICEJ director Pastor Bezalel Tegi said the launch is to get prepared for the visit of Reverend Juha of Israel.

“He will bring us the fresh message from the Zion in Israel about what God is doing and will do in our coun-

Churches, state meet to finalise operations guide

PNG Church State Partnership Program consultation workshop held at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby this week displayed a positive outlook for churches to work in partnership with the the Government through their health and education services.

National Planning and Monitoring Department assistant secretary Social Joshua Himina and his team consolidated an implementation guideline with an expected outcome for the workshop to finalise for the National Executive Council’s approval and for churches to present projects implementation reports to DNPM for consolidation of the 2014 PNGCSPP annual implementation report.

The implementation guide was worked on by participants in groups and later was presented on how to best contribute to developing a finalised implementation guide.

There were five objectives of the workshop:

At a glance

WORKSHOP: A consultation workshop for PNG Church State Partnership Program, held at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.

OUTLOOK: For churches to work in partnership with the Government through their health and education services.

OBJECTIVES: There were five objectives outlined at the workshop.

TO present and provide final input into the PNGCSPP implementation guidelines;

TO finalise the implementation and the operationalisation mechanisms such as the Terms of References, Memorandum of Understanding and Implementation Structure of the PNGCSPP;

TO upskill and build capacity of church technical officers in project planning;

TO provide an avenue for partnering churches to present their

2014 project implementation report; and

TO consolidate project implementation information and data to finalise the 2014 PNGCSPP implementation report.

The main issue that stuck out was the establishment of the Coordination Office when it can be operational, who will head the section, what its primary role is and link to the Church Development Council (CDC) which was developed by the Church Leaders Council (CPP).

On hand to clarify the matter was executive officer of the Church Partnership Program Coordination officer Maryanne Kehalie, Program coordinator Margaret Sete and United Church Development Unit manager Kali Sete who is part of the CPP, funded by the Australian Government. This showed a unified stand and supportive approach for the church council and evangelical churches in PNG.

try and beyond as the country turns 40 years old.”

Pastor Bezalel added that there is already a Godly prophetic connection with PNG and it is not a mistake for God’s messenger to come to PNG right on our 40th anniversary.

“I urge all the Christian leader4s and churches throughout the nation to support in prayer as we launch the program whereby Reverend Joseph Walters will officiate this weekend, said pastor Bezalel.

Meanwhile ICEJPNG is aware, but confirm that the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also visit PNG on our anniversary. The visit is believed to be timely as both nations unite in one faith.

“PNG should be prepared in Godly spiritual with faith to see what he prophetic word of God is coming to pass in our beautiful country in relation to that of the nation of Israel.

school performs well

BY ANDERSON KOPONO

A PRIVATE school had performed unexpectedly well by sending its students to further their education at higher institutions in the country and overseas.

PNG Education Development Services Secondary School is a private institution which was registered in 2011 and recognized by the Department of Education, Office of Higher Education and affiliated to many universities overseas.

The school offers upper secondary curriculum and small-to-medium entrepreneurship to Grades 11 and 12 and Grade 12 upgrade students.

According to executive director John Rumints, the institution not only educates students but also molds the students to cope with life after school.

“Our aim is to teach students, school drops and continuing students how to fish and not just giving them the fish,” Mr Rumints said.

They provide compulsory SME courses to help students start their own projects after school.

So far, students who have gone through the intuition have set up their own fish and chicken projects in their communities after leaving the school.

Schools on Feni Island in dire need of upgrade

BY PATRICK MINANA

EDUCATION facilities are in a sorry and shocking state of affairs on remote Feni Island of Tanir LLG area in the Namatanai district of New Ireland Province.

In interviews carried out in the local community recently, it was revealed that the three primary schools and elementary schools were all run down to the extent that there was no enthusiasm by students to go to school. The same can be said for the teachers.

Local elder Paias Tomilan said there are no proper classroom buildings or teacher’s houses, adding that the current facilities needed to be rebuilt.

Mr Tomilan said this was an urgent need for both the elementary and primary schools on the island as it was unfit for students to sit in and learn effectively. He said the buildings are a threat to students as they could fall apart anytime and injure the students and teachers anytime.

The locals supported this call and expressed that for too long, this had affected their children’s education with only one or two selected for further studies whilst the majority stayed back home in the community.

They said local teachers themselves haven’t taken pride and ownership of their roles and have taken “long service leave” in Namatanai or Kavieng or even go as far as Kokopo for months at a time and return with reasons saying they had been away on school duties.

Babase Primary, Matof Primary and Feni Primary schools are in dire need of repairs and renovation, if not, a total makeover. These classroom buildings are in unacceptable standards and needs the urgent attention from the local MP and the education authorities.

Elementary school teacher, Albert Tonigge, said though they have fend for themselves to build their own classrooms and schools, they still lacked teaching and learning materials for their school.

Critic urges PNG, Aust to do more

BY SEBASTIAN HAKALITS

BOUGAINVILLE is rising from the ashes and it must creat more awareness on what it had gone through as a result of the civil war created by both the PNG and Australian governments, a critic says.

Patric Heromate said these two governments must bear the burden to rebuild Bougainville as the uneven provision of services currently provided speaks for itself.

Mr Heromate said decisions the then Australia government made to conduct mining in Panguna without proper consultations and social mapping in the communities shows ignorance and disrespect for indigenous norms and cultural heritage.

Mr Heromate said Bougainville needs its economy and infrastructure developed to help sustain peace.

Efforts by the Australian and PNG governments to assist the region must be thought of as a preventive development initiative to forestall the need for another conflict.

He said the current share of

Australian aid to PNG, although higher than its proportion of the population, does not deliver enough impact to reflect its importance to Australia.

Mr Heromate said greater effort in development assistance could make up crucial lost ground in areas such as public safety, community awareness and legal, business and administrative capacity as a preventive development initiative.

“It is a better option than to wait for the situation to deteriorate, given what is at stake, the Australian, PNG and Autonomous Bougainville Governments should conduct more vigorous assistance effort to avoid the future need to reintervene, militarily,” he said.

Mr Heromate said although the released joint review of autonomy arrangements may provide a sound road-map for the next steps in peace progress, Waigani’s decision to allocated funding of K100 million per year for infrastructure will not go far to provide the level of investment, expertise and impetus to make autonomy work.

ONE of the run-down classrooms on Feni Island in Namatanai District, New Ireland Province. Many are still using make-shift classrooms built from traditional materials such as bamboo and sago leaves, which are prone to the weather and are rotting rapidly.

Allow PPL on building boards: MP

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

REACTIVE electricity channelled back into the PNG Power grids and distribution lines is now the general cause of many blackouts and power surges in Papua New Guinea.

PNG Power’s New Guinea mainland regional manager, Stanley Gogorea, explained this to the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

Mr Gogorea and Public Business and State Enterprises Minister Ben Micah also said all building and physical planning boards in all provinces throughout the country have not allowed PNG Power to sit on these boards.

“This has compromised safety and proper installation of electricity in most buildings in the country,” Mr Micah said.

“When there is a fire, you blame PNG Power but to prevent such fires you need to have them sit on these

boards,” he added.

Mr Gogorea said they do have representations on such boards in Morobe Province and asked if authorities can reconsider their membership.

He said with electricity generation, reactive electricity generated by sub-standard electrical appliance and machineries are being channelled back into the power system causing surges and compromises the quality output of electricity.

He said most imported electrical appliances do not meet PNG’s power generation standards and compliances.

“Many people without an understanding of how electricity works and what kind of work is required to output quality, says PNG Power is at fault all the time but often it is not the case,” he said.

Mr Micah said he will be pushing for PPL, Independent Consumer Affairs Council and relevant government departments to correct the quality of imports.

THE flag of Papua New Guinea was adopted on July 1, 1971. In the hoist, it depicts the Southern Cross; in the fly, a Raggiana Bird of Paradise is silhouetted. The designer of the flag was 15-year-old schoolgirl Susan Huhume, who won a nationwide competition for a new flag design in 1971. Red and black have long been traditional colours of many Papua New Guinean tribes. Black-white-red was the colour of the German Empire’s flag, which had colonised New Guinea prior to 1918. The bird of paradise is also found on the national coat-of-arms. Pictured is the PNG Flag at the Independence Hill in Port Moresby. From the looks of it, we need a replacement.

Kumalu bypass needs upgrade

THE K8 million Kumalu bypass on the Wau-Bulolo Highway is just a pilot track and needs further upgrading and assessment, says the Department of Works.

The department’s Morobe provincial manager, Kingsford Kassen, set aside statements made by provincial leaders and bureaucrats that the by-pass was ready to be used and only needed a bridge over the headwaters of the Kumalu River.

Mumeng local level government President Okam Paton had told a gathering at his LLG headquarter at Mumeng that the by-pass was ready to be used but a bridge is yet to be built over the river.

Mr Paton named the contractor and asked why it had not built the bridge after the road contractor, HBS, had built the road.

But, Mr Kassen told PostCourier that the by-pass was a new cut and classed as a pilot track. Also, the contract for the bridge is yet to be awarded.

“The road is a new cut and the next phase is to upgrade and strengthen it, thus, our engineers will assess it before the bridge is built,” he said. The by-pass track was constructed by HBS last year and is a National Government project.

THE PNG FLAG AT THE INDEPENDENCE HILL

Modernization of National Parliament”

PARLIAMENT STANDING ORDERS

Know Your Parliament with Hon. Theo Zurenouc, MP.

Welcome to another edition of “Know Your Parliament” series. Last week I discussed with you the role of the Governor General. Today I will discuss the Standing Orders of Parliament. It is a rule that govern the conduct of Parliament business. The effectiveness of the Member of Parliament (MP) contribution on the floor of Parliament will depend on its proper understanding and application.

PARLIAMENT STANDING ORDERS

Standing Orders are permanent written rules under which a Parliament conducts its business. The continuing or “standing” nature of the rules means that they do not lapse at the end of a session or parliament. In other words, they remain in effect until Parliament itself decides to suspend, change or repeal them. In some instances, however, provisional or temporary Standing Orders may be adopted by a legislature and last only until the end of a session or a Parliament.

Similarly, there may be rules in place which simply aren’t followed at all any more, or else actual practice followed in the House may differ from what is stipulated in the rules. Other aspects of how business transpires in a Parliament are governed by the country’s constitution, as well as certain Acts. Some of these constitutional provisions may be adopted as formal rules in the Standing Orders.

Purpose of Standing Orders

Standing Orders regulate the way MP behaves, Bills are processed and debates are organized. The Standing Orders typically provide a detailed description of the legislative process, the election and role of the Speaker, the election of the Prime Minister, how committees will be organized and function, etc. However, not all rules observed in the House are found in the Standing Orders. Much of parliamentary procedure is not written into the Standing Orders but exist as the custom and practice of Parliament. Some stem from Speaker’s rulings in the legislative chamber, other procedures are followed because that’s the way things have been done in the past, so a precedent has been set.

Importance of Standing Orders

Parliament Standing Orders is written to enable MPs to make an effective and meaningful contribution to the House. It is therefore imperative for MPs to understand parliamentary procedures and effectively use them to their advantage. The Parliament conducts its business according to the rules determined by Parliament itself. Standing Orders are the rules of the MPs. In order to successfully put a plan to action, the MP will need to understand the rules; other plans can be ruled as out of order.

Reviewing Standing Orders

The Standing Orders belong to Parliament - the legislative arm of government and that legislative body is free to amend or repeal any rule, and create new ones. The following party can review the Standing Orders.

(a) Government of the day can propose changes to the rules which will then be debated in House and often reviewed by a committee.

(b) Sometimes the Speaker, in a ruling on a matter which may not be explicitly covered by the Standing Orders, may refer the matter to a committee for consideration, which may result in changes to the Standing Orders.

(c) Primarily, Parliamentary Standing Order Committee can review existing rules and put forward recommendations to improve how the House conducts its business. During the review, MPs have the opportunity to raise any concerns about them by making a submission. The Standing Order Committee will then make recommendation to the Parliament. Only Parliament by resolution can amend or revoke the Standing Order.

Effective Member of Parliament

In order to be a successful parliamentarian and making effective contribution to the House, one need advance planning and a better understanding of Parliamentary procedures It means, MP need to take ownership of the rules and act responsibly within them. The Standing Orders can work for you if you plan and use them effectively, but may seem to work against you if you do not.

In the next article I will discuss with you the symbols of Parliament. .

Parliament website and SMS

Visit our website www.parliament.gov.pg to see the work of Parliamentary Committees, Profiles of MPs, legislative activities, chamber activities, annual parliament performance report and many more. To know more about your MP and his/her good work, text the MP,s first and last name to 70000300. For further information on parliamentary systems and process, email civieducation@ parliament.gov.pg or Call Civic and Education Manager, Sarufa Haro on Ph: 3277448

Power functions need to be shared

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

PNG Power Limited needs to be broken up and some its functions sourced out to the private sector.

Minister for Public Businesses and State Enterprises Ben Micah said PNG Power in its current state was the regulator, generator, distributor and retailer of electricity right throughout the country.

Mr Micah said at this stage, the company is barely floating and with the economy on the upturn and investors flocking to invest in the country, the demand for electricity will also increase.

He said critics are going to be critical about such reforms but he has studied such reforms that have taken place in England and New Zealand.

He said in such state, PPL will not be in a good position to adequately contribute to the developments taking place.

He told PPL employees in Lae that the retail business of the company can be sourced out to the employees, who will be

retrenched to own companies to absorb the retail business.

“This is what British Power did with its retail business by retiring their retail employees early in the 40s to 50 and the government setting up seed capitals for them start companies to take over the retail business,” he said.

He said these companies set up for former employees are now some of the big electricity company ies in United Kingdom and are currently doing projects in Middle East and Africa.

He told the employees that the National Government can do that for them and if they were prudent businessman and woman, they can go places.

Mr Micah asked them; “why should you work until you go grey and fragile when you can still contribute meaningfully to this business by being your own boss and your children taking over”.

The retail part of the electricity business is hooking up homes to electricity, installing easy pay metres and metre boxes, purchase of power and mainte-

nance of distribution lines.

This aspect of the business can be sourced out by the company and it will still make money being the regulator.

He said the generation aspect of the business is being sourced out but very slowly, and he pointed out Bayune Hydro Power in Bulolo district operated and owned Bulolo Forest Products as an example.

Bayune produces around 12 megawatts of electricity and is now hooked up on the Ramu Grid and supplying power to Lae City.

“This is what’s happening in New Zealand, the electricity is produced by a private company and hooked up on a grid operated by another and distributed and retailed to consumers,” Mr Micah said.

He said instead of PPL keeping and trying to maintain a huge overhead cost, it can retrench its staff early and put them into business and shed cost.

“PNG Power will still make money and cut cost at the same time,” he said.

Provinces a headache for PNG Power

MT HAGEN city is consuming one megawatt of free electricity and it is costing PNG Power Limited and the State K7 million annually.

And, in Madang a businessman, named, is threatening to shoot PNG Power employees if they go near is property.

These were all revealed by State Minister Ben Micah and controller of the state of emergency Tom Ur.

Mr Micah said he had questioned the MP of that highlands electorate who is a minister in the cabinet how they could he and his constituents be doing that.

“We losing K7 million and it is not good enough,” he said.

dues and comply. The controller said provinces like Western Highlands and most Highlands provinces, which are proving difficult to PNG Power employees in collecting electricity bills and doing inspections, will be dealt with differently.

But he assured that nation that the PNGDF will not be called in to assist, he will rather use police but if the situation warrants for soldiers to be called out, he will do so.

He said in most centres people illegally connected are fronting up and confessing their wrongs, and are being disconnected, inspected and reconnected legally.

“What is owed to PNG Power will be collected and how it is collected will be my business whether I am dealing with a sitting MP or a rich businessman and woman or just a simple Papua New Guinean,” he said. Meanwhile, in Lae PPL employees with the help of mobile squad police have unearthed thousands of illegal connections and by-passes.

It was disclosed that many well to do people, university and tertiary educated Papua New Guineans, are involved in the illegal activities.

Hon. Theo Zureneouc, MP Speaker of Parliament and Member for Finschhafen

On the issue of the Madang businessman, Mr Micah would rather have the controller visit him “because they are brothers and let him shoot the controller”.

Captain Ur (ret) said he has spoken to the businessman concerned and assures the country that he will pay his

Mr Ur said if illegal people want to prove difficult and throw stones at them then they will throw back stones at them and if they point a gun at them, they will point five guns at them. He was referring to persons who are resorting to physical force and threat to prevent PNG Power employees into their premises and businesses.

Police also said that one of their bosses had electricity to his house disconnected because the meter had been tampered with and he was illegally using power.

“You see the easy pay meter and you’d see that it is okay because the meter is full with credits but that credit was purchased years ago, and the meter had been by-passed,” a policemen said.

A POWER pole standing at a drunken angle in Kokopo. Ef fi cient service is a reason behind Mr Micah’s calls for outsourcing

If

Foundation funds elementary school

BY MEROLYN TEN

THE Digicel PNG Foundation has donated a new double classroom building to Daugo Elementary School, purposely to create space for this year’s new enrollments in the area.

Daugo Elementary School is located on the Fisherman’s Island in Moresby South electorate, NCD.

“The school infrastructure project valued k140, 000 and was built to provide space and opportunity for 40 young children to step into a classroom and further their education,” said Beatrice Mahuru, the chief executive officer of Digicel PNG Foundation.

Ms Mahuru said the building was structured with steel frame with a office space in between the blocks, 20 desks, 5000 liter water tanks, two ventilation improved piping toilets, and solar lighting.

She said with the school year set

“44 classroom buildings providing over 880 rural children access to conducive learning...

to begin, the Digicel Foundation projects team as travelled the country conducting quality assurance check on its remaining classroom projects and one such includes the Daugo Elementary School.

“A total of five libraries worth k100, 000 have been rewarded to two primary schools and three elementary schools in Gulf, Morobe, Central and Jiwaka provinces since last year.

“Our investment in basic education saw a further 44 classroom

DRY COCONUT ON SALE

Partners ready to help develop district

MINISTER for Culture and Tourism and MP for North Fly Boka Kondra made a surprise visit to his district with high profile development partners to foster and develop relationship that will enable further development into education sector, infrastructure and small and medium enterprises in the district.

Mr Kondra, while addressing staff of Kiunga Vocation Centre which he had earlier made a commitment of K2 million from the national Government to, said the money is available and will go through proper procement process to allow the best contractor to start working on the housing project for the teachers.

He also introduced Fly Hope PNG Limited, a company based in Australia and specialises on project management, investment, advisory,

fund management, housing accommodation and water system.

Other partners he introduced include F CUBED Australia Pty Ltd, a company which specialises on manufacturing solar water processors.

Mr Kondra said it is important to bring partners and to work with them to bring about tangible changes to the district and the province as a whole.

He said the partners will see what ways they can help the district and also interact with the people on how best they can work together to bring development into the province.

“Since North Fly is the leading district in the province we want to make sure it become a model district and build its infrastructure through partnerships,” he said.

Councillor dies in car accident

BY DENYSE KALAU

A CENTRAL Province councillor was killed and two others were injured in a road accident on Magi Highway at the weekend.

Central provincial police commander Chief Inspector Laimo Asi said yesterday the accident happened around 2pm on Saturday as councillor Wuduna Vari was travelling to a village in the Rigo District to attend a law and order meeting.

Chief Insp Asi said Mr Vari was

also Rigo LLG vice-president and the chairman of the law and order committee.

“The councillor died instantly from a loss of blood when the roof of the vehicle collapsed on him while the other two passengers sustained minor injuries,” he said.

Chief Insp Asi was present at the meeting which the villagers had organised to discuss ways to address the continuous harassment of villagers by unruly youths and police officers.

buildings providing over 880 rural children access to conducive learning environment,” Ms Mahuru said.

The Daugo community expressed their gratitude to the Foundation for the infrastructure while the acting board chairman of Daugo Elementary School, Paul Hendry said the building was a blessing to the community.

“From nothing we have received something and we are amazed at the speed of how things have progressed with the new building,

“The school was established in 1983 and enrolls a total of 126 students which makes up six classes. Five classes were taught in the five classrooms while one class was taught under the Okari tree next to the buildings, and with the new Digicel Foundation funded double classroom, the left out class will have a good environment for the learning to take place,” Mr Hendry said.

you have a story to tell, call us on 309 1042, or email

AMOA Alusi selling 80t and K1 coconut at Koki market in Port Moresby.

BEATRICE MAHURU Port Moresby

If you have a story to tell, call us on 542 2602, or email posthagen@spp.com.pg

Lodge lifts with end of liquor ban

THE lifting of the liquor ban is a relief to owner of the Porgera Sai Lodge, Jones Pawe, as he employs about 24 local staff to work at his lodge and has since struggled to keep his employees.

Mr Pawe said the liquor ban in Porgera was uplifted and he was given back his license to trade but it will be closely monitored to allow genuine customers who come to relax and enjoy their beer.

He said the Sai Lodge has been trading liquor before the SOE call out but that was put to halt last year 2014 by the Enga Provincial Government.

The smuggling of liquor into the Porgera mine town has been a daunting task for the security forces and police. It was also a blow to internal revenue as huge amounts of money was lost through non payment of taxes. Police warned though, they trouble makers will be dealt with severely.

Self thought artist show case skills, talents

A SELF-TAUGHT contemporary artist and graphic designer, Tito Kumed, has gone outdoors for the first time to show case his talents by painting the concrete wall of the new Kapal House building in Mt Hagen.

The talented artist and graphic designer of mixed parentage of Morobe and Madang put to good use his hobbies to beautify the third city with portrays of highlands traditional face paintings.

Tito said he won a contract with the ESSA Foundation, the contractor constructing the building, to paint the concretes for three weeks and he has some more days to complete the whole picture.

“I have ambitions to one day own a big contemporary art and graphic design company,” said Tito.

The artist operates of his home at Y-Waves Street in Mt Hagen and can be contacted on 71101519.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & APPRECIATION

ENGA DEVELOPMENT FORUM INC.

A Non-profit, Non-political and Independent Development Partner & Think Tank Focused on Development in Enga Provincial

THE PATRON OF ENGA DEVLOPMENT FORUM INC. & GOVERNOR OF ENGA PROVINCE, GRAND CHIEF HON. PETER IPATAS, GCL, MP AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ENGA DEVELOPMENT FORUM INC. WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE FOLLOWING LEADERS, COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT AND DONATION TO ENGA DEVELOPMENT FORUM INC. TOWARDS

a) OUR FIRST FUNDRAISING DINNER HELD ON THE 22nd NOVEMBER 2014 IN PORT MORESBY, AND

b) OUR INAUGURAL ENGA DEVELPOMENT FORUM HELD ON THE 22ND DECEMBER 2013:

THEY ARE;

1. Hon. Peter O’Neill, CMG, MP, Prime Minister

2. Grand Chief Hon. Leo Dion, GCL, MP, Deputy Prime Minister

3. Sir Theodophilus Constantinou, CBE

4. Hon Davies Steven, Minister for Civil Aviation

5. Hon James Marape, Minister for Finance

6. Hon Robert Ganim, MP, Member for Wabag 7. Hon Labi Amaiu, MP, Member for Moresby North East 8. Enga Children’s Trustee Fund 9. Enga Provincial Administration

10. His Excellency Kim Seong-choon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea 11. Super Value Stores (SVS) Ltd 12. Barrick PNG Ltd 13. Institute of Business Studies (IBS) 14. Department of Finance 15. Flavalea Ltd 16. Suai Ltd 17. Department of Communication and Information 18. National Development Bank 19. National Airports Corporation 20. Air Niugini and its subsidiary, PNG Link 21. Mineral Resources Development Corporation 22. Mineral Resources Enga 23. Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) 24. Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd

25. Eda Ranu

26. National Gaming Control Board

27. Manase & Company, Lawyers

28. Exxon Mobil PNG Limited

29. Mr. Robin Fleming

30. Ela Motors

31. Nae Properties

32. Nenele Properties

33. Covec PNG Ltd 34. Dae Won Ltd 35. Panda Builders 36. Wabag Guest House 37. Ribito Motel Ltd 38. Cameron Construction 39. Oceanic Construction 40. Star Tailoring 41. Boruku Builders/Juka Services 42. Wizzy Transport 43. Guangdong GDFC’(PNG) Ltd 44. Orion Project Services 45. Haiara Legal Practise 46. Mr. Willy XZ Chen

47. Mr. Namba Tumu (Madang)

48. Mr. Laias Kandi/Wagambie Lawyers

49. Dr Timothy Pyakalia & Mrs Pyakalia 50. Mr. Mathew Kakaraya 51. Many others who we are not able to name

We deeply appreciate your support and donations given and highly regard you all as our Strategic Partners in Development

A full report will be presented at the second Conference of the Enga Development Forum scheduled for the 2nd week of April 2015 in Wabag, Enga Province.

Thank you and May God bless you more in 2015 and beyond.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ENGA DEVLOPMENT FORUM INC.

Locals raise concerns on lack of basic services

BY SIBA MESA

THE people of Mul District in Western Highlands are raising concerns of lack of basic services that were supposed to be provided by their local MP Koi Trape.

Since Koi Trape was elected to parliament, the people said they have seen no developments being done in the electorate for the past two years of serving as their MP.

Community leader of Balk in Mul District Kipi Krama raised concerns that the MP promised to bring development to the district but nothing has happened yet.

Mr Krama said the MP has he only made commitments without doing much to deliver on those promises.

“We voted blind people into parliament who do not know of their duties as MPs to deliver basic services while we the people are still living an uncivilized life,” said Mr Krama.

Mr Krama instead praised former MP Sani Rambi, who he said provided funding for bridges, roads, health centers and provide other basic services which the people have benefited from and he usually informs them of how he uses

At a glance

NO DEVELOPMENT: Since Koi Trape was elected to parliament the people have seen no developments being done in the electorate for the past two years of serving as their MP. MP promised to bring development to the district but nothing has happened yet.

the money being allocated for the district.

The local leader said machines are clearing roads along the highway in the district but they are not sure if the roads will be completely sealed because where he comes from the roads from Balk to Kingsley and other roads are yet to be sealed.

He sid the people of Mul want the MP to provide the services they need.

He said the people have had enough of hearing about commitments as election is fast approaching and the MP should be delivering services. Such political issues are an eye opener to people to make wise decisions to choose the right leader when casting their votes during election periods, he said.

TITO Kumed standing next to his incomplete master piece at the Newly Built Kapal House.

Education key to good jobs in mines

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

GETTING a good education is the key to getting good jobs in the world class Wafi-Golpu gold and copper project on the borders of Bulolo and Huon districts in Morobe province.

Morobe Mining Joint Venture’s community affairs manager Stanley Komunt made this statement when speaking at the opening of projects funded by Mumeng local level government through the local level government services improvement program.

Mr Komunt told the children of Mumeng and the rest of Bulolo district and the neighbouring Huon district that higher and better jobs were waiting for them. He told the children that all they had to do is to be educated to university, technical college and other tertiary institution levels. He said getting such an education is vital and being from the Bulolo and Huon districts, the chances of being employed in

the mine is very high.

“If you come to me, looking for a job with a bush knife, I will tell you to go and cut the grass.”

“Don’t try to use a bush knife to get a better paying job, instead use education to get that desired job,” he said.

“You come to me with a university degree, technical certificates and higher certificates and say that you are from Mumeng, Bulolo or Huon, you will be given the job.”

Mr Komunt said nothing was easy and it needed hard work and a push for better education to pave the way for people in Bulolo and Huon Districts.

He said the job opportunities, if the Wafi-Golpu mine is constructed and operated, are there for the taking.

Bulolo MP and Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil has been advocating and pushing for Bulolo children to rise up in ducation.

Mr Basil has piloted incentives like Air Niugini pilot scheme for

the brightest science students in the district. He also wants to see Bulolo children to be leaders and front liners in the mine operations on their home soil.

Bulolo has one secondary school which is Grace Memorial but it has been performing poorly and Mr Basil has pleaded year in, year out for the teachers and students to lift the bar.

Huon district has two high schools at Salamaua and Morobe, even though Wawin National High School is in located in the district, it is a school of excellence operated by the National Department of Education.

Top students from Salamaua and Morobe are sent to secondary schools at Bumayong, Bugandi and Busu in Lae city which have boarding facilities and to Wawin which is a boarding school. Graduating from such secondary schools with high marks and going further tertiary institution should be focal point for students from the two districts.

UNITECH vice chancellor and others at the orientation week at the university, which is providing quality technical education for PNG students.

Japan to help build bridges

WEST and East New Britain provinces are expected to see the construction of new bridges that will link the two provinces.

The Government of PNG, has asked the Japanese Government to provide grant aid for the reconstruction of bridges on New Britain Highway.

This will allow for the rebuilding of the damaged Kapiura Bridge and Aum Bridge as part of the program to improve the highway.

According to a statement by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) PNG, it will have major beneficial effects such as enabling faster movement of people and goods between regions, securing a route

Australia, NZ advisers to help in B’ville elections

PREPARATIONS for the upcoming 2015 ABG General Election have been boosted with the arrival of officers from the Australia and New Zealand electoral commissions over the weekend.

Acting ABG Electoral Commissioner George Manu, while welcoming these officers into Bougainville, said their role is to assist the Bougainville Electoral Commission in conducting the election.

that is highly resistant to flood disasters, and realizing a safe national highway.

Incidentally, Kapiura and Aum bridges were originally made in Japan and constructed by a company with strong links to Japan as part of a policy to construct a road for boosting timber production at the start of the 1980s.

New Britain Highway in West New Britain Province stretches for 203km from Palm Oil Junction close to the border with East New Britain Province to Mai Junction close to the provincial capital of Kimbe, and it has 38 bridges over major river crossings along the route. It is a priority road for the government.

YOUR CAREER STARTS HERE

“If you see them, they are here to help us...there is no question about why they are here,” said Mr Manu.

He said some of these officers will be posted to the Central and Southern regional field coordination offices.

“I will be posting some of these officers to each regional office where they will be working with our officers that will be based in these offices,” Mr Manu said.

These field coordination offices are part of the commission’s plan to decentralise its operations and accessibilitythroughout Bougainville.

“Apart from helping us in the election, they will also be training our officers too in preparation for the establishment of the Bougainville Electoral Commission. We need their assistance,” he said.

Are you interested in Motor Vehicles and want an exciting future? Have you completed Grade12, or completed a course at a Vocational/ Trade College?

Do you want to work for a company that is dedicated to your development and success?

Do you have the commitment to complete a 4 years apprenticeship and create your future?

If you have answered YES to the 4 questions above, we would like to know more about you.

Ela Motors is Papua New Guinea’s premier automotive company and will soon be recruiting a group of new apprentices that will have an opportunity to be a part of the company for many years to come. We will be recruiting for the following trades in the indicated locations and numbers.

Motor Vehicle Mechanic = Badili [6 positions] Buka [1 position] Kimbe [1position] Kokopo [1 position]

Lae [7 positions] Mt Hagen [2 positions] Vanimo [1 position] Waigani [1 position] Wewak [1 position]

Spray Painting & Panel Beating = Badili [5 positions] Goroka [1 position] Lae [2 positions] Mt Hagen [1 position]

IMPORTANT NOTE: To be considered for these positions you must provide proof that you actually live within commuting distance of the above location you are applying for. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity with Ela Motors and the many benefits and opportunities that come with working for a company that has been in PNG for over 50 years, then submit your letter of application along with your schooling and further educational records now. You must include a current contact telephone number-landline or mobile This is important.

you have a story to tell, call us on 982

THE Australian and New Zealand electoral advisers

Telikom PNG acquires local television station

TELIKOM PNG Limited (Telikom) has reportedly finalised the acquisition of PNG’s popular television Station EMTV at the cost of US$9.98 million or more than K27million. A source from Telikom when contacted yesterday told the Post-Courier that an official announcement will be made “later” most likely today (Friday).

According Fiji Sun newspaper and Island Business newswire, it was reported yesterday that the Fiji Island based Media Niugini owned EMTV is now owned by State-owned Telikom PNG.

Along with the headline on the Island Business newswire ‘Telikom PNG owns EMTV now’ it went on to report; “new owners of Media Niugini which runs EMTV in Papua New Guinea is that government-owned telecom company, Telikom PNG.

“A sale agreement was signed in Suva yesterday by Telikom PNG, FijiTV and owners of Fiji TV, Fijian Holdings Limited,” the newspaper reported.

Island Business stated that in announcing the sale before journalists in Suva yesterday morning, Fijian Holdings’ CEO Nouzab Fareed reportedly said FijiTV got four valuations done on EMTV over the negotiation process. He also confirmed that no public tender on the sale was called; saying Fiji TV instead approached a number of companies in PNG including Telikom PNG.

He said offers FijiTV got ranged from K4 million to a high of K35 million.

“Fareed was not asked but Islands Business had reported earlier that FijiTV had bought EMTV from Australia’s Channel 9 in 2005 for US$1.6 million (K4.1 million).

He said necessary shareholders’ and government approvals would

The bottom line

90%

be sought in the next 30 to 60 days for the sale to be sealed and effected.

The newspaper also asked where the sale leaves Fiji TV; the television company that is in direct competition with the Fijian Government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Television headed by Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fareed would not answer directly.

He would not say whether FijiTV is also for sale, only offering that there would be some changes in the future, migrating from analogue to a digital broadcast platform would

be among those changes.

He did confirm that the sale proceedings of EMTV would be shared as dividends among FijiTV shareholders.

He also admitted that their decision to repatriate EMTV’s K11 million to Fiji last year was a “mistake” as the company copped a huge tax payout.

Michael Donnelly, chief executive officer of Telikom PNG told journalists in Suva that EMTV’s biggest attraction for the company is the convergence possibilities the acquisition offers. Providing

ICT, communication and content in one single service is what customers are looking for today, he was reportedly telling journalists.

He also gave the assurance that the jobs of all of EMTV’s 160 employees are “absolutely secure.”

One of their plans is for EMTV to offer analogue and digital parallel broadcasts in the not too distant future.

Telikom PNG adds EMTV to its growing portfolio of media subsidiaries as it already owns FM100 radio station, and it also acquired Datec PNG in 2014.

$A falls after poor retail

If you have business story to tell, call us on 3091028, or email ptwundai@spp.com.pg

of all restaurants fail during their first year of operation.

MICHAEL Donnelly, CEO of Telikom PNG puts pen to paper to seal the K$27m buyout of EMTV in Suva today. His Chief Financial Officer looks on. -- Photo: Samisoni Pareti of Island Business

2015 fiscal overview

BY GORETHY KENNETH

TREASURY Secretary Dairi

Vele yesterday outlined the PNG LNG revenues flowing to budget 2014-2019 and gave a run down of the 2015 projections including the key risks to the 2015 economic outlook.

Vele was speaking at the 2015 Leader’s Summit at Gateway hosted by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, presenting the state of the economy, 2014 budget performance and the 2015 budget framework and Implementation Strategy.

He said the LNG revenues in 2015 include a total of K2156.3m in LNG revenue which is projected to flow to the State in 2015. LNG tax totalled K1014.1m whilst the LNG dividends totalled K1142.2m.

“Nothing new, but 65 per cent LNG dividends to budget through SWF stabilisation fund, 25 per cent of LNG dividends to SWF savings fund, 10 per cent to holding company and net LNG Dividends to State with dividends to NPCP.

He highlighted that the Key Risks to the 2015 Economic

and Fiscal Outlook included: Global Economic developments having adverse implications on commodity prices;

Disruptions to major resource projects, particularly the PNG LNG project;

Ability of Government to finance the deficit from the domestic market;

Loss of fiscal discipline, eg: Off-budget expenditure pressures;

Capacity constraints preventing full implementation of the Budget; and Expenditures being redirected towards non priority activities.

“The 2015 total revenue and grants in 2015 is now projected to be K14,044.6m, revised up by K13,712.0m from 2014 revised estimate of K12, 673.6m. This is due to mining revenue up K1075.7 m.

“Major non mining taxes are also projected to increase, personal income tax up K226.6m, GST up K172.7m, Company tax up K53.4m and other tax revenues up K59.8m.

Non-tax revenue is projected to decline by K221.7m and grants to decline by K41.6m,”

Mr Vele said.

THE rainy season in the nation’s capital has not deterred this avid vendor from conducting his daily sales of newspapers. With his newspapers covered and wrapped up in a plastic garbage bag and cardboards, its business as usual as he stands under his umbrella.

Farmers: Review oil palm price

BY DENYSE KALAU

MORE than 6000 oil palm growers in the Northern Province have called on the government to address issues affecting growers in the province.

Among the issues raised was the reviewing of the oil palm price formula, road maintenance funding, government subsidy to Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) and the grower’s stabilisation funds that the farmers wanted the government to address immediately.

Chairman of the Popondetta Oil Palm Growers Association Dickson Daima who was present for the first quarter meeting of the oil palm growers association in the province highlighted the review of oil palm price as the key issue affecting farmers, particularly oil palm growers.

Mr Daima said the oil palm price review was submitted to the Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscoll and the Treasury Department in 2013 and since then the farmers are still waiting for the results of the review from both departments.

Currently the market price for oil palm is K1.55 per tonne.

BSP closes rural branch in Walium

OVER the past 12 months, Bank South Pacific (BSP) has had to close eight (8) rural Branches due to break and enters, totalling a period of approximately 630 days.

Zenag, Okapa, Kerevat, Banz, Tambul and Minj branches have all experienced temporary closures with Tabmul later closing permanently. Gumini and Laiagam branches were permanently closed in 2013.

BSP, in a statement, announced yesterday that the Walium branch in Madang Province has been closed indefinitely, also as a result of a recent break and enter.

“Rural banking access is vital for people in remote areas. These BSP branches provide primarily Key Card and Electronic/Mobile banking transactions so very little cash is held on premises.

“Without these rural Branches customers have to travel long distances at considerable cost to themselves to do banking in major towns,’ the statement read.

BSP promotes rural banking and financial inclusion for the benefit of communities and to bring more people in remote areas into the formal banking sector. Unfortunately these efforts are being frustrated by a small number of people.

BSP is asking local people and leaders of these communities take ownership, in a law abiding way, and work with government and law enforcement authorities to ensure law and order in Walium and including other regions.

Botten says Oil Search focused on two major possible projects

OIL Search faces two tough years ahead but two potentially attractive opportunities that, if successful, will command significant investment in Papua New Guinea, according to Oil Search boss Peter Botten.

Mr Botten who spoke at the 2015 Leaders Summit in Port Moresby yesterday, added that the industry is now focused on putting in place all necessary requirements for two major possible projects – PNG LNG Expansion and ELK Entelope LNG Development.

He spoke about the oil business, PNG LNG, the oil price, the industry reaction and its impact on PNG and the possible 2017 investment and the impact on the company and state revenues.

“The industry focus on putting in place all necessary requirements for two major possible projects, the – PNG LNG expansion and ELK Entelope LNG development,” Mr Botten said.

“The requirements to move forward include the reserves to be confirmed, basis of design, revised costs to construct, commercial, fiscal, landowner agreements, confirmation of attractive markets, confirmation of financing arrangements, operating and political stability being important and the co-ordination and support to progress the two major gas development projects simultaneously,” he said.

“We have two tough years ahead, two potentially attractive opportunities that if successful, will command significant investment in PNG, the Government and private sector should work together, as never before, to address social issues, operating and political stability essential,” he told the packed Gateway concerence room. He also said that landowner and community expectations will not change with oil price halving, and that partnership between the state and private

sector has never been more important .

“The focus areas, provision of competitively priced, reliable power, Port Moresby, Highlands and Ramu grids, targeting over one million connections.

“Over half of the population within 20 km of Ramu grid, platform for industry development, small scale LNG for resource projects and remote communities, partnerships on infrastructure development, partnerships on health programs, capacity development,” he said.

OIL Search managing director Peter Botten addressing the 2015 Leaders Summit in Port Moresby yesterday.

COME RAIN OR SHINE

Hides staff undergo health training

HIDES Gas Development Company Ltd continues to provide training for its staff to ensure they are healthy and fit to work and are also aware of such diseases as tuberculosis and the dangers these diseases pose if people are not careful.

HGDC Ltd trainer Daniel Tumbiari and site clinic nurse Justina Ara recently conducted a two week awareness training on dangers of TB for the employees of HGDC Ltd, Laitepo Engineering Ltd and Hides Alliance Group who are based at the company’s Para Camp in Hides, Hela Province. The total number of participants was 157.

The training packages were provided by ExxonMobil PNG Ltd MOH and in the coming months more such trainings will be conducted covering among others Malaria Awareness and Drugs and Alcohol, which will include the dangers of smoking and chewing of betelnut.

Participants described the training as informative and said that they have learnt something that they can also impart onto their relatives in their local communities.

US firm to offer bridge solutions

U.S. Bridge has made entry into the Papua New Guinea market in partnership with national company Trident.

U.S. Bridge is a global leader in supplying steel bridges and providing technical support and solutions to all bridge requirements.

The group offers a wide selection of bridge styles to meet vehicular steel bridge solution needs with designs that are attractive, functional and aesthetic.

Adaptable to local conditions, U.S. Bridge accommodates skewed alignments, roadway widths from one to three lanes, local utilities and sidewalks with flooring options that include timber, concrete, open grid and their own corrugated steel planks with an asphalt wearing surface.

U.S. Bridge has over the years successfully applied its “solution based approach” to the international markets to prestigious customers throughout the world from highways and roads to mining and petroleum projects.

Trident’s managing director, Mr Hubert Namani, said that roads and bridges are a catalyst for social and economic growth for the country and Trident Group is committed to supporting Government initiatives by bringing top class technology, innovation and service to Papua New

At a glance

U.S. BRIDGE: A global leader in supplying steel bridges and providing technical support and solutions to all bridge requirements. The group offers a wide selection of bridge styles to meet vehicular steel bridge solution needs with designs that are attractive, functional and aesthetic.

TRIDENT: Is committed to supporting Government initiatives by bringing top class technology, innovation and service to Papua New Guinea.

U.S. BRIDGE SERVICES: Has over the years served international markets to prestigious customers throughout the world from highways and roads to mining and petroleum projects.

Guinea.

“A Quick to Ship, Quick to Install with a Maintenance-Free structure approach enhances the advantage of working with a team of truly infrastructure professionals.”

The group stands ready to support the PNG Government in its focus on infrastructure development in country.”

Anyone interested in our bridging solutions can look up the web site: www. usbridge.com

SITE-based staff of HGDC Ltd showing off their certificates after the completion of their training.

png made

For advertising, call 309 1031 or email lahuir@spp.com.pg

Gas to develop national 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.

‘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.’

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.

‘While we can obtain an excellent premium value for gas sold as LNG to energy hungry markets, we might also be able to accumulate just as much value if the gas is used as petrochemical feedstock for petrochemical projects at home and feeding that output into much needed industrial activity.’

For instance, InterOil and its part-

ners could bring gas from the ElkAntelope 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.

For example, the Juha gas field, in the northern Western Province, is scheduled for development only after 10 years into the current PNG LNG Project. But why should such a distant gas field be given a place in the gas development queue?

The same applies to the P’nyang gas field (also located in the northern Western Province), the development of which the PNG LNG Project companies are proposing to support a third train at

Caution Bay.

The nearer gas fields such as ElkAntelope need to be developed fi rst.

Domestic usage

Future gas production need not necessarily be solely for export and cash revenues.

‘By assessing tax liabilities, on value adding and profit through the gas processing stream, and on into any manufacturing process, we might be able realise benefits even be greater than those received from simple export of the gas as LNG.’While we can obtain an excellent premium value for gas sold as LNG to energy hungry markets, we might also be able to accumulate just as much value if the gas is used as petrochemical feedstock for petrochemical projects at home and feeding that output into much needed industrial activity. The value chain needs to be examined most carefully. Downstream development seems to be hard to achieve when operating costs in PNG are so high and operations face a fi scal regime, which was designed to capture fi fty per cent of the net value of the produced gas.

Tax incentives

Feedstock could be made cheaper, if the fi scal and commercial regime was eased for all petroleum production that is processed in PNG.

CONTINUED PAGE 29

PNG’s own tailored products made with commitment

BY MARILYN PAUL

RAYYA Trading Limited is one of Papua New Guinea’s foremost and accredited manufactures and suppliers of uniforms and work wears.

The company’s expertise and commitment ensures the quality of manufactured garments come in quality and style.

The business started in

2009, when there was an enormous need for the manufacture and supply of specified uniformed clothing. Rayya Trading Ltd has expanded from a small factory to a large scale, and has established its new factory with fully equipped manufacturing plant in Gordon.

As an empowered and experienced manufacturer in the manufacturing industry the

company is able to accommodate the unique equipments of each client. Since the inception of Rayya Trading Ltd, uniforms were supplied to various companies on contract and tender basis with much of its products supplied to both government and private sectors throughout the country. Most of its products are PNG made and tailored by Papua New Guin-

eans. The company also helps in providing employment opportunities for young women in the country. Though it’s not nationally owned or run, 95 percent of the employees are national with only three male and rest female.

The company goes ahead in assisting young women with training needs to aid them find employment, and this is achieved through

its partnership with Small Business Development cooperation, La-salle Hohola Youth Development Centre and Mainohana Secondary and Technical School. Rayya trading engages students from the schools mentioned for training purposes. After their training period is over the students that perform well are then hired by the company to work and earn

something for themselves. The company’s sales and marketing representative, Rameez Subaideen said they also take walk in customers with request of their own sample and design. Rayya Trading has been in operation in the country for more than three years serving cooperate clients and organization with its base office in Port Moresby.

PETROLEUM Adviser, Michael McWalter

Sugar maker unveils new sweet flavour

YABRU Village in the Ramu Agri Industries Ltd (RAIL) is pleased to announce the launch and release of its latest addition to its range of products, Ramu Raw Sugar.

Raw Sugar has become increasingly popular in many markets around the world in recent years due to suggested health benefits. Raw Sugar has a higher level of Glucose than refined sugar and therefore is believed to promote Energy.

RAIL is a part of the New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL) and has initially been released only in 500gm poly packs to give the public an opportunity to sample the new product with the plan in place to add 250gm and 1kg poly packs to the range. RAIL is a proud member of the PNG Manufacturer’s Council and as such is always seeking to increase downstream processing within PNG.

The industry believes in promoting locally made products rather than allowing imported products from

dominating the local market. One of the objectives of the PNG MC is to promote self sustainability and long term food security. Locally made products help to strengthen the PNG economy by assisting with increasing job opportunities and promoting investment within PNG and also keeping the PNG Kina within the country. R aw Sugar has a distinctive taste and flavor and is suggested to contain a higher level of nutrients than more refined sugar products. RAIL is confident that Papua New Guineans will eventually adapt to and even prefer this new Raw Sugar.

Raw Sugar is believed to be better for health than Refined Sugar products because it contains rich organic nutrients and substances such as Glucose and Fructose that the body absorbs easily to provide energy.

It is further believed to improve circulation, increase blood cell production and enhance digestion.

could be greater than those received from simple export

FROM

PAGE 28

By assessing tax liabilities, on value adding and profit through the gas processing stream, and on into any manufacturing process, we might be able realise benefits even be greater than those received from simple export of the gas as LNG. ‘..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.’

A similar story might also be told for gas, and indeed petroleum, in general, when used for power generation. More than 120,000 youngsters join the population each year, but often not the workforce.

And there is the emerging middle class, who want a better life in Papua New Guinea.

So there is an opportunity to plan for the optimal use of PNG’s petroleum resources, and in doing so, improve the lives of people, rather than simply throw cash into the economy and its communities.

www.bapng.com

SITE of the proposed Konebada Petrochemical Park in Central Province. Inset: The Elk-Antelope gas field. Credit: InterOil

Benefits

FEBRUARY 6-7

SANDOWN HILLSIDE

SATURDAY

Weather: Overcast.

Track: Good (3).

Rail: Is out 5m for the entire circuit.

GEAR CHANGES RACE 1: (3) Mister Milton bar plates on again RACE 3: (3) Petite Diablesse bar plates on first time, race plates off first time; (9) Quicksilver Lass cheekers on first time, tongue-tie off first time RACE 4: (1) Prompt Return, (5) Brockhoff tongue-tie on first time; (2) Thurlow blinkers on first time, winkers off first time; (3) Brooklyn ear muffs off first time; (4) Assertive Star bit lifter on first time, blinkers on first time; (6) More Than Most lugging bit on first time, winkers on first time RACE 5: (1) Manhattan Blues, (2) Stoker, (8) Moment Of Music blinkers on first time; (5) Keen Array lugging bit on first time, winkers on first time; (6) Pay Up Bro winkers on first time; (7) Thunder Gun barrier blanket on first time, blinkers on first time, stallion chain on first time, winkers off first time; (11) Andrioli tongue-tie on first time; (13) Eolande tongue-tie on first time, winkers on first time; (14) Shadow Wings stallion chain on first time RACE 6: (1) Amorino blinkers on again, visor off first time; (3) Escado blinkers off again; (7) Lunayir blinkers off first time; (9) Tales Of Grimm gelded, tongue-tie on first time RACE 7: (2) Merion off-side blinker off first time, off-side bubble cheeker off first time, cross-over noseband off first time; (11) Lady Einstein visor on first time, winkers off first time RACE 8: (10) Runway Star near-side blinker off first time RACE 9: (2) Stereosonic cross-over noseband on again, kyneton noseband off first time; (5) Murcielaga blinkers on again; (8) Himalaya Dream gelded, lugging bit on first time; (10) Spiritof Endeavour blinkers on first time, winkers off first time

Sportingbet Protest

Sandown Hillside strike rates

Hannaford Race 2: Taiyoo, Magnapal, Tanby, Hippopus Race 3: Argna Rock, It’s One, Zazparella Race 4: Thurlow, Parcel, brockhoff, Haybah Race 5: Soker, Keen Array, Stylemaker Race 6: Decircles, Escado, Osvaldo Race 7: Chivalry, Profit Share, Hauraki Race 8: O’Malley, Neat Feat, Runway Star Race 9:Reddamour, Final Jest, Kerthos

MINISTRY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PRESS RELEASE

Hon. Malakai TABAR, MP Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology

CHANGES IN HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SECTOR

Greetings and welcome to another academic year.

Since assuming office, the O’Neill-Dion Government has prioritised education. This has included unprecedented investment and focus on the Higher and Technical Education (HTE) Sector to improve access and quality and enhance governance for greater accountability in our Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The achievement of PNG Vision 2050 goals is solely contingent upon the quality of available human resources in our country. Hence, investment and transformations within HTE Sector have centred upon building our country’s human resource capacity to achieve its development goals for 2050. In launching this process, the following investments and achievements have been undertaken by the current government:

Passing and adoption of the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2014 – This new Act was passed and certified on 30th October 2014. It effectively establishes the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology (DHERST) and streamlines all activities classified under the HTE Sector ensuring greater accountability of all HEIs and their functions.

Transformation of Office of Higher Education (OHE) to Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) – OHE was initially created as a scholarship clearing house in the late 1970s and later evolved into a policy secretariat under the Commission of Higher Education in the 1990s. It is now being transformed into a government department responsible for all activities under the HTE Sector. The management structure of this new department has been approved by the Department of Personnel Management. This year marks the beginning of this historical milestone where this organisation is now officially and fully functioning under DHERST.

Establishment of the PNG Science and Technology Council Secretariat – In 2014 the Ministry for HERST established this secretariat. It is now a separate entity within the Ministry coordinating all research, science and technology functions.

University External Quality Assessments – For the first time in the history of HTE, all universities have undergone external quality assessments, designed to assist each university improve their operations and quality of academic programs and teaching. Other HEIs will follow shortly.

National Higher and Technical Education Plan (NHTEP) 20152024 –The NHTEP 2015-2024 will be launched for implementation in February 2015 to guide all HTE development activity towards PNG Vision 2050 goals.

Accreditation of new higher education institutions – Continuing improvement in access, five new institutions – International Training Institute, Institute of Business Studies, Institute of Banking and Business Management, Enga Nursing College & Sonoma Adventist College –were accredited in 2014 as HEIs. Other HEIs are currently being assessed for accreditation in 2015. This will increase access to tertiary education and training for year 12 graduates.

Ending of PNG UNITECH crisis – The PNG UNITECH crisis which lasted for one and a half year was resolved in mid-2014, through successful intervention and corporation among major stakeholders

2014-2015 Selections – Commencing enrolments for tertiary education have been steadily growing at 10% annually. This year marks a 21%

increase - 5,628 students compared to 4,614 last year. This trend will continue until we can provide access for all qualified year 12 graduates within our development aims.

NATSCHOL - The Government has reintroduced NATSCHOL pocket allowances in 2012 to ease the financial burden on parents. This will continue and expand in years ahead.

NEC Submissions - Since 2012, the Ministry under the leadership of the O’Neill-Dion government has sponsored a total of 43 submissions of which 38 (88.4%) have been approved by NEC.

DHERST Funding - Since taking office, the O’Neill-Dion Government has increased funding for HTE by over 300%. Funding to improve access and quality will continue. For 2015, the Government has allocated 51% of the total 2015 PIP Social Sector Financing to DHERST. In monetary terms, this is K197.5m – the highest amount approved for the DHERST to-date.

Major Impact Projects

(1) Infrastructure rehabilitation and recapitalization Program – Since 2012 the government has consistently invested in rehabilitating and recapitalizing our six universities in order to improve access and quality of teaching and learning. Total expenditure to-date is K102m and a further K62.5m is allocated for 2015. An additional K120m is also allocated for Technical and Business Colleges, Teachers’ Colleges & Nursing Colleges Infrastructure Rehabilitation. This will continue under the current O’Neill-Dion Government.

(2) TVET Skills Scholarship Program – This program specifically aims to redress the estimated 30% trade skills deficit in our country and supports school leavers to undertake basic trade skills training in TAFE colleges in Australia. Currently, over 700 young Papua New Guineans have passed through this program with a Trade Certificate II, III or IV and at least 50% of these graduates are now engaged in the workforce. To-date, total Government funding is K83m.

(3) PNG Open University – Feasibility studies and project preparation for the establishment of Open University are currently in progress. This is a timely initiative for PNG, and it will be rolled-out to the 89 districts and will significantly increase access to higher education through partnerships with the sub-national Governments. An initial K3m has been allocated for this project.

(4) Western Pacific University (WPU) - WPU will be an applied technology based university located in the central highlands. The process for building WPU has started and first enrolments are targeted for academic year 2017. At full capacity this university will enroll up to 6,000 students. To-date K12m has been allocated, with infrastructure funding to be negotiated with donor partners.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Acting Secretary Prof David Kavanamur. The HTE Sector has achieved much since Prof Kavanamur took office in 2012 and the above achievements are only some of them.

The Ministry under the O’Neill-Dion government remains committed in ensuring a vibrant and sound HTE sector. The DHERST now has greater responsibility in ensuring greater accountability across the HTE sector.

This press release is authorized by

Hon. Malakai TABAR, MP Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology

Efforts by department commended

THE efforts by the recently established Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology have been commended by the Higher Education Minister Malakai Tabar.

Until recently, the deaprtment was known as the Office of Higher Education under the directorship of Prof David Kavanamur.

In an accompanying press release this week Mr Tabar stressed that thedepartment’s Higher Technical Education (HTE) sector has achieved so much much since Prof Kavanamur took office in 2012 and these achievements are only some of them.

The statement added that the Ministry under the O’Neill-Dion government remains committed in ensuring a vibrant and sound HTE sector. The DHERST now has greater responsibility in ensuring greater accountability across the HTE sector.

Since assuming office, the O’Neill-

Dion Government has prioritised education. This has included unprecedented investment and focus on the Higher and Technical Education (HTE) Sector to improve access and quality and enhance governance for greater accountability in our Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The achievement of PNG Vision 2050 goals is solely contingent upon the quality of available human resources in our country. Hence, investment and transformations within HTE Sector have centred upon building our country’s human resource capacity to achieve its development goals for 2050. In launching this process, the following investments and achievements have been undertaken by the current government:

Passing and adoption of the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2014 – This new Act was passed and certified on 30th October 2014. It effec-

tively establishes the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology (DHERST) and streamlines all activities classified under the HTE Sector ensuring greater accountability of all HEIs and their functions.

Transformation of Office of Higher Education (OHE) to Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) – OHE was initially created as a scholarship clearing house in the late 1970s and later evolved into a policy secretariat under the Commission of Higher Education in the 1990s. It is now being transformed into a government department responsible for all activities under the HTE Sector. The management structure of this new department has been approved by the Department of Personnel Man-

agement. This year marks the beginning of this historical milestone where this organisation is now officially and fully functioning under DHERST.

Establishment of the PNG Science and Technology Council Secretariat – In 2014 the Ministry for HERST established this secretariat. It is now a separate entity within the Ministry coordinating all research, science and technology functions.

University External Quality Assessments – For the fi rst time in the history of HTE, all universities have undergone external quality assessments, designed to assist each university improve their operations and quality of academic programs and teaching. Other HEIs will follow shortly.

National Higher and Techni-

cal Education Plan (NHTEP) 2015-2024 –The NHTEP 20152024 will be launched for implementation in February 2015 to guide all HTE development activity towards PNG Vision 2050 goals.

Accreditation of new higher education institutions – Continuing improvement in access, five new institutions – International Training Institute, Institute of Business Studies, Institute of Banking and Business Management, Enga Nursing College & Sonoma Adventist College –were accredited in 2014 as HEIs. Other HEIs are currently being assessed for accreditation in 2015. This will increase access to tertiary education and training for year 12 graduates.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

To book your job advertisement in Painim Wok PNG , contact Classi fied Sales on the above emails.

READY FOR DUTY

Higher education ahead

FROM PAGE 37

Ending of PNG UNITECH crisis – The PNG UNITECH crisis which lasted for one and a half year was resolved in mid-2014, through successful intervention and corporation among major stakeholders coordinated by DHERST.

2014-2015 Selections – Commencing enrolments for tertiary education have been steadily growing at 10 percent annually. This year marks a 21 percent increase - 5,628 students compared to 4,614 last year. This trend will continue until we can provide access for all qualified year 12 graduates within our development aims.

NATSCHOL - The Government has reintroduced NATSCHOL pocket allowances in 2012 to ease the fi nancial burden on parents. This will continue and expand in years ahead.

NEC Submissions - Since 2012, the Ministry under the leadership of the O’Neill-Dion government has sponsored a total of 43 submissions of which 38 (88.4 percent) have been approved by NEC.

DHERST Funding - Since taking office, the O’NeillDion Government has increased funding for HTE by over 300 percent. Funding to improve access and quality will continue. For 2015, the Government has allocated 51 percent of the total 2015 PIP Social Sector Financing to DHERST. In monetary terms, this is K197.5m – the highest amount approved for the DHERST to-date.

Major Impact Projects

Infrastructure rehabilitation and recapitalization Program – Since 2012 the government has consistently invested in rehabilitating and recapitalizing our six universities in order to

improve access and quality of teaching and learning. Total expenditure to-date is K102m and a further K62.5m is allocated for 2015. An additional K120m is also allocated for Technical and Business Colleges, Teachers’ Colleges & Nursing Colleges Infrastructure Rehabilitation. This will continue under the current O’Neill-Dion Government.

TVET Skills Scholarship Program – This program specifically aims to redress the estimated 30 percent trade skills deficit in our country and supports school leavers to undertake basic trade skills training in TAFE colleges in Australia. Currently, over 700 young Papua New Guineans have passed through this program with a Trade Certificate II, III or IV and at least 50 percent of these graduates are now engaged in the workforce. To-date, total Government funding is K83m.

PNG Open University – Feasibility studies and project preparation for the establishment of Open University are currently in progress. This is a timely initiative for PNG, and it will be rolled-out to the 89 districts and will significantly increase access to higher education through partnerships with the sub-national Governments. An initial K3m has been allocated for this project.

Western Pacific University (WPU) - WPU will be an applied technology based university located in the central highlands. The process for building WPU has started and fi rst enrolments are targeted for academic year 2017. At full capacity this university will enroll up to 6,000 students. To-date K12m has been allocated, with infrastructure funding to be negotiated with donor partners.

TEACHING is one of the most rewarding careers there are. Teachers graduate from an in-service phase study.

PA course in POM this April

This COURSE DEVELOPS THE PA’S AND EA’s personal brand and teaches effective strategies for adding significant value to the PA role. It is essential that PAs cultivate a productive working relationship with their boss so this course shows PAs how to protect their boss’s personal brand, how to identify their boss’s shifting priorities without being told and how to regularly create ‘do not disturb’ time in their boss’s diary.

This international, intensive hand on training course will offer excellent value for money as a training resource that propels the PA and EA skill-set to the next level. Attendees learn valuable strategies, techniques and essential soft-skills that demonstrate how to approach their role from the perspective of a business partner. This is an excellent 2-day course for PAs, EAs, secretaries and administrative professionals. It is challenging, interesting and insightful.

Today’s Executive PA role is very project-centred so this course develops event management, party planning and problem solving skills too. It uses case studies, practical exercises and group work to develop practical skills in project planning, influencing, presenting and practical win-win negotiation,

all of which are essential soft skills for today’s effective business partner.

Course Leader

MARGUERITA KING (Known as PA Guru) BSc DipPA is the founder and Managing Director of Personal-Assistant- Tips (based in London). Marguerita has over 25 years PA experience and has worked in a number of industries within the public and private sectors. Marguerita has written hundreds of articles on PA best practice and strategy. She has also written advanced and intermediate-level PA training courses. Marguerita is an expert international PA trainer and has delivered PA training around the world.

Course Highlights

Making the shift from Executive PA to business partner

Understanding what your boss needs from you without being told

Improving your professional relationship with your boss

Understanding how to prepare for the arrival of a new boss

Understanding how to effectively organise your workflow

For queries, contact 0060 3 78657474 Email: faizan@beyond360.com.my

Air Energi, PNGAA plan career fair

Procurement

ON FEBRUARY 26 and 27, Air Energi and the PNG Australia Alumni Association (PNGAAA) will be hosting their second annual Career Fair at the Crowne Plaza. Last year was huge success with over 25 exhibitors and 1500 job seekers coming through the door. Job seekers were able to meet with employers face-to-face and discuss career opportunities as well as attend seminars on topics such as graduate programs, interview skills and sponsorship opportunities.

This year the Fair will also be open to prospective students Interested in studying in Australia. Air Energi’s Education partners will be exhibiting to discuss their study options, requirements and opportunities. The Fair invites all Australia Award Alumni, graduates who hold a diploma or degree in any areas of discipline, with or without work experience and students who would like to further their education overseas.

The following exhibitors are looking to recruit in a variety of areas; Remington, ANZ Bank, BSP Bank, Deloitte Touche, Trukai Industries, TISA, Department of Personnel Management, PNG Power, World Vision International, and PNG Forest Products. Education providers include; TAFE North, Queensland University of Technology and

St Pauls School and Australia Awards will also be exhibiting to provide information on the 2016 scholarship opportunities.

There is a pre-registration system, so if you are a qualified job seeker (hold a certificate, diploma or degree) or prospective student and would like to attend the fair, you must go to www.pngcareers.airenergi. com to register.

As members of the Business Coalition for Women (BCFW) and Business Professional Women’s Club (BPWC), Air Energi has invited these organisations to deliver

seminars on their contributions in assisting women for equal opportunities in their economic, political and social life in PNG. The fair is free for job seekers however there will be a donation box during preregistration and at the entrance. All proceeds will go to the BPWC to support scholarships for young women and girls. There are a few trade tables available so if your company is interested in exhibiting you can obtain information by emailing Air Energi at ttaylor@airenergi.com by February 20, 2015.

Population Services International (PSI) is a Leading Global Health Organizations, operating in 67 Countries around the world including Papua New Guinea with programs targeting Malaria, Child Survival, HIV, Reproductive Health, and non - communicable diseases. Working in Partnership with the Public and Private Sectors, PSI provides lifesaving products and services and behavioural change communications that empower the world’s most vulnerable lives to live healthier.

Vacancy - Various Positions

PSI currently has Vacancies for following positions: -

1. MARPs Project Manager (POM Based)

Responsible for successfully implementing a DFAT-funded program to help NACS create a communications strategy for faith-based service providers of STI/HIV testing and treatment to the most-at-risk populations; men who have sex with men, trans-genders, and sex workers. A complete communication strategy for FBOs will have to be produced and approved by all relevant actors by the end of the year 2015. The MARPS Project Manager will be responsible for establishing a workplan to ensure all workshops, meetings and approvals can be accomplished. This position reports directly to the Social Marketing Director

2. Graphic Artist (POM Based)

Responsible for preparing and developing visual presentations by designing art and copy layouts for behaviour change communication materials for PSI’s health programs by providing access to effective communications and affordable products. This position reports to the Communications Manager.

3. Logistics Coordinator (POM Based)

Responsible to support and oversee all country logistics activities including of ice maintenance and leet management in collaboration with the administration team.

The position supervises four drivers in Port Moresby and repor ts to the Procurement, Warehouse and Logistics Manager.

4. Ware-House & Fleet Of icer (LAE Based)

Responsible for the overall day to day administration of the PSI Lae Warehouse and Fleet. Support and oversee all logistics activities including procurement, warehouse, and leet management in collaboration with the Lae Operations Manager.. This position supervises one driver and reports directly to Operations Manager (In Lae).

5. Driver (POM Based)

If you have what it takes to perform on this position, please forward your updated CV & Cover letter to: email: recruitment@psipng.org / e.taime@psipng.org or drop your application at our of ice: Section 52, Allotment 18, Varahe Road, Gordons or send by mail to: Population Services International - PNG, P.O. Box 327, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea or call HR on: Ph: 311 2190 or Fax: 311 2199

All applications close on Friday the 17th of February 2015.

PARTICIPANTS at last year’s Air Energi - PNGAAA first run career fair.

Partnership in skills training

SKILLS training providers and relevant government bodies are urged to work together to ensure recipients establish a career pathway from what they learn. This was highlighted by PNG Life Education Institute (PNGLEI) Director Rai Gini this week when announcing the institute’s orientation for 2015 on February 16 at the National Library at Wa PNGLEI was established in 2011 aimed at providing appropriate skills demanded by industry. It was also set up to empower underprivileged youths have the opportunity to seek employment. PNGLEI enrols six batches of students every year. Each batch consists of at least 100 students. Each of the batches undergoes three phases of training which includes;

Phase 1 consists of basic theory lessons that run for six weeks. Upon completion, then come the second phase which is the next six weeks with organisations or job placement. The job placement comes in three categories which are: On the job training, casual employment and permanent employment. These depends on the requirements by industry. The successful completion of both phases one and 2 will enable you to graduate with a Certificate of Attainment.

“75 percent of students from PNGLEI get permanent employment while the remaining from each of the batches are usually the ones that come back for the phase 3 part of the training,” Mr Gini said.

The Phase One program at PNGLEI consists

of 6 modules which are:

Sales and Marketing

Merchandising

Basic Business Studies

Customer Service

Purchasing

Communication Skills

“Running this module of training is aimed at meeting training needs and students to be multi-skilled so that they have a set of skills that will help them meet industry demands,” Mr Gini said.

He also stressed that the training that PNGLEI is offering is different from formal education. The training was more industry centred and as Mr Gini put it “training is more about acquiring jobs knowledge”

Meanwhile, he further appealed to relevant authorities to seriously look into empowering young people who get ‘pushed out’ of the formal education system.

“What we are doing at PNGLEI is picking up the pieces from where the school leavers end up and providing an alternative for them so that they can still be someone later on in life, “ Mr Gini said.

He also acknowledged the same efforts by the National Capital District through the initiative to train unemployed city youths by the Governor Powes Parkop. He further urged that the different electorate MPs in Port Moresby should be working closely with private training providers like PNGLEI to help skill underprivileged youths to prepare them for the future.

The Papua New Guinea Institute of Public Administration is one of Government’s leading training institutions that provide both generic and competency based training to the public service and private sector organizations. PNGIPA is the now moving towards becoming the School of Government, thus with the new structure we are now seeking highly motivated, qualified and experienced individuals to immediately fill the following Senior Management positions.

Authorized by Ms Betty Palaso The Commissioner General

YOUTH who attended a previous PNGLEI before commencing their training.

Job Vacant URGENT

Seeking Ambitious Licensed Electrician.

We are looking for a committed and hardworking licensed Electrician.

Please contact Norma Belem on PH#: 7091 6473 for more information.

Careers exhibit on again

SOME OF the corporate businesses who participated in the first career fair last year.

The second one to be organised once more by Air Energi and PNGAAA is scheduled for February 26-27.

Picture Courtesy: AIR ENERGI

Plant the seed

Veteran journalist ALFRED

KANINIBA wraps up his four-part series on the power of the pen. Keep on fighting the good fight. Teach your children too. Say a little prayer to Jesus, you’ll be right.

MY friend Dale Galusha of the Signs of the Times newsletter sent me this beautiful story which I wish to share with you.

Have you ever said a prayer?

A little fellow of six-years-old saw a man coming down a long ladder from a very high roof. When the man reached the ground, the boy with childish wonder said to him, “Weren’t you afraid of falling when you were up so high?” and then added “I know why you were not afraid, you said your prayers this morning before you began your work.”

That little fellow knew the meaning of prayer. Before the year ended, the boy died, and before the funeral, the sorrowful parents were astonished when a servant told them that a man was at the door pleading hard to be allowed to see the little boy.

Permission was given, and as the man gazed with emotion on the beautiful face of the boy, he said to the sad parents, “Ah! You may wonder at my feeling, but that dear little fellow taught me to pray.”

Then he told of the child’s question about the ladder, and said: “My heart smote me as I heard the words, for I had not prayed at all, and felt how little I deserved God’s protection. But never have I forgot-

ten to pray since then, and by God’s blessing I never will.” – Selected, Signs of the Times, July 18, 1892. Indeed a heart warming story which helps us to meditate about how our children are the voice and ear of God and how prayer can empower them to help others.

Last Sunday, February 1, about 200 people, including children, attended the inaugural Blessing of the Pen service at the Holy Family Anglican Church at Hohola in Port Moresby.

The idea was to have our journalists and media workers attend a service to have their pens blessed to mark the opening of the journalism year. It happened. A small number of journalists turned up and were blessed. Apart from them, more than 50 children also held up their pens and pencils and were blessed.

Holy Family’s priest in charge, Fr John Alfred Dubabagi, who led the service based his sermon on the theme ‘Faith, Hope and Love’, and encouraged the journalists to “have faith in what you do and love your job”.

“It is through faith that you will succeed and with hope you will have a vision of the future and

what you hope to achieve. So aim for that goal. But remember, it is with love that you will achieve everything.”

A young man, Jimmy Kila, who read the Bless the Pen article, texted asking if he could have his pencil blessed, because it was his examination year. I asked him to turn up. He did last Sunday and had his pencil blessed. Jimmy is studying aircraft maintenance engineering and his exams are in September.

After the service he said: “Was empowered by the “Blessed Pen is mightier than the sword” initiative. This should be an annual event as it has the power to instil the courage to conquer challenges as journalists or in other careers through the power of God.”

Another member of the congregation from the Highlands came up for the blessing with the journalists. This was unexpected. She stood beside me. I looked over and saw her. She did not have a pencil or a pen. I had an extra so I handed it her and asked her to hold it up. She did. This mother, who is illiterate, then handed me back my blue biro. I felt so blessed.

While many journalists and media workers were not able to make

it, many sent their support. National Broadcasting Corporation managing director in a text to former Post-Courier journalist Ephata Samuel said: “Ephata inform Alfred that my management and staff support the cause. MD”.

Former journalist now lawyer, Ekonia Peni said: “Alfie I have intently kept close track with what you and my former colleagues are still doing today with the Pen as the Sword to empower our people. I continue to pray for you all and will be with you on February 1, 2015. I shall be with you all one day, maybe soon, maybe later. Please keep the pen writing. Best regards to you all on this memorable occasion. Former penmate. Ekonia Peni.”

Prolific writer John Kriosaki, who has lived the adage: The Pen is Mightier than the Sword texted on Jan 18: “Alfred Kaniniba I am in full support of the inaugural ‘Blessing of the Pen’ service on 1/2/15.”

Harold Badirega of Lae texted: “I totally agree with your initiative and enjoy reading your articles. Fight the good fight. The Pen is Mightier than the Sword.”

Freelance writer Stanley Balzer said: “The Pen is mightier than the

sword. I concur. God bless you.”

Kelly Deklin of Vanimo said: “I read with interest your article in today’s PC Weekend and I was touched. As a language and literature teacher, I relate to what you were expressing. You said “pen” and I tell my students that “words” are a writer’s most powerful tool. Both are related in a way. Thank you for keeping us informed.”

After the blessing – the national pledge was recited followed by the singing of the national anthem. To end the service the hymn Fight the good Fight was sung.

I thank the parish council, Fr John, and all others who made this service possible. Especially my aunt and staunch supporter Matilda Pilacapio and nephew Charles Moi, who supported me unfailingly to which I am thankful for.

I was encouraged and blessed when I saw more than 50 children lifting up their pencils and biros to receive their Blessing of the Pen, who are now empowered for the opening of a school year. It reminds me of the story which I began with – teach them how to pray. A seed has been planted. Say a little prayer to Jesus, you’ll be right.

God bless you.

Some of the churchgoers who had their pens and pencils blessed during the service last Sunday

Fr John Alfred Dubabagi delivering his sermon on ‘Faith, Hope and Love’ at the Hohola church

More than 50 children had their pencils and biros blessed. These are just some of them with supportive adults

Childre n’s Bedtime Stories Children’s Stories

T he C ou nt P i r o The Count Piro

ONCE upon a time there lived a man who had only one son, a lazy, stupid boy, who would never do anything he was told.

Being you

Girls must be proud of who they are, Miss PNG says during an interview with CARMELLA GWARE. Do not turn into someone you’re not, she adds.

WHEN I talk to younger girls, I always say: “Be comfortable with who you are,” says Grace Nugi during a recent interview. You might be wondering how in the world I got hold of this busy young beauty contestant. Well, it started like this… It was a cloudless, very sunny Saturday afternoon. Being a nononsense kind of person, I hid inside my house, hoping to escape the scorching heat. Even the flies smartly fled from the sun and came into the house as well. I was eventually winning the battle – CG the Terror-master vs The Fleakin’ Flies – when a horn tooted outside my window. Pretty soon my phone started ringing.

“Carmi?”

“Christine?” I sarcastically responded.

“We are outside the house.”

So that was how, after 20 minutes, I found myself at the Port Moresby Nature Park’s neat little café with Christine Aiwa, who is a member of the Miss Pacific Island Pageant PNG committee and my self-styled gang leader, and the sophisticated yet down-to-earth Grace.

“What was it like in Samoa? Did everything go as planned,” I asked.

“We had a few last-minute changes to my outfit, uhm, for the traditional wear. My sarong wear also got misplaced by **** Airways…” “So useless,” butted in Christine. “… So we had to run around and do last-minute changes,” continued the Chimbu-Jiwaka lass.

Imagine being in a foreign land and, with limited time in your hands, you had to not only find but also design an outfit as soon as

possible for an international event! Well, our heroes eventually found a material that was a good replacement for Grace’s sarong. They had it printed with authentic PNG designs but the print did not come out as expected. “For traditionally-inspired we also had a few additions like feathers, which I wasn’t planning on wearing …”

“Did you wear the Astrapia birdof-paradise feathers?” I interrupted.

“Yeah I wore that. We had to put the whole head dress under 10 minutes! You need two hours to put it perfectly. There’s a way of putting it so that the feathers don’t bump into each other, where they should stand up straight and not fall into each other, that sort of thing.”

“If there was a strong gust of wind,” I began with a serious expression on my face, “do you think you would have flown?”

“I think (gasp) I would (gasp) have…” Grace answered as she struggled to contain her laughter.

“In the local pageant I had a lot of support from the Chimbu community.” Granville Motel also opened its doors to Grace to use during her meet-and-greet events, free-ofcharge. “We came third (online voting) which was pretty phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who voted. I also saw a lot of supportive posts on Facebook. That was the biggest moral support anyone could ask for. I cannot thank them enough. Thank you,” Grace said with shiny (teary?) eyes. “I know how you feel ‘cause Imma celebrity myself,” I said confidently. They both burst out laughing, quite rudely too. I didn’t care though. Mission accomplished.

Waterworks prevented.

When I first saw the MPIP’s contestants, I felt threatened even though I wasn’t a participant. Grace, on the other hand, revealed that she was not intimidated. “I have a lot of self-confidence. I am pretty happy the way I am. So when I talk to younger girls I stress ‘be comfortable the way you are, do not compare yourself to other people or become superficial and turn into someone that you’re not’.” Whew, what a mouthful.

The pageant should be promoted in outside provinces, Grace suggested, where winners can be flown to Port Moresby to take part in the major event. This is to promote fair representation. “And because it’s all about culture, I would definitely recommend getting more PNG designers. When I was out there with the girls (in Samoa), I saw dresses and outfits that were more reflective of their nation.

“Our fashion industry is growing with more PNG designers coming out. It’d definitely be nice if we had all these designers on board. It’s not about making money or us paying them to come in. They should see it as a way of promoting their work to other Pacific Islands.” “It’s a good market,” butted in Christine, as usual.

Let’s make this event a big one, said Grace enthusiastically. And why not? Apart from being part of the largest island out of the 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean (Indonesia owns the other half), and being one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, PNG can move mountains. We just have to cooperate for that to happen.

When the father was dying, he sent for his son and told him that he would soon be left alone in the world, with no possessions but the small cottage they lived in, and a pear tree which grew behind it. And whether he liked it or not, he would have to work or else he would starve. Then the old man died. But the boy did not work; instead, he idled about as before, contenting himself with eating the pears off his tree, which, unlike other pear trees before or since, bore fruit the whole year round. Indeed, the pears were so much finer than any you could get even in the autumn, that one day, in the middle of the winter; they attracted the notice of a fox that was creeping by.

“Dear me; what lovely pears!” he said to the youth. “Do give me a basket of them. It will bring you luck!”

“Ah, little fox, but if I give you a basketful, what am I to eat?” asked the boy.

“Oh, trust me and do what I tell you,” said the fox, “I know it will bring you luck.” So the boy got up and picked some of the ripest pears and put them into a rush basket. The fox thanked him, and, taking the basket in his mouth, trotted off to the king’s palace and made his way straight to the king.

asked the king.

“Oh, he has everything he wants,” replied the fox. “He is richer even than you are, your Majesty.”

“Then what can I send him in return for his pears?” said the king.

“Nothing, your Majesty, or you would hurt his feelings,” answered the fox.

“Well, tell him how heartily I thank him, and how much I shall enjoy them.”

The fox trotted back to the cottage with his empty basket and told his tale, but the youth did not seem as pleased to hear as the fox was to tell.

“But, my dear little fox,” said he, “you have brought me nothing in return, and I am so hungry!”

“Let me alone,” replied the fox, “I know what I am doing. You will see, it will bring you luck.”

A few days after this the fox came back again.

“I must have another basket of pears,” said he.

“Ah, little fox, what shall I eat if you take away all my pears?” answered the youth.

“Be quiet, it will be all right,” said the fox, and taking a bigger basket than

“Your Majesty, my master sends you a few of his best pears, and begs you will graciously accept them,” he said, laying the basket at the feet of the king.

“Pears? At this season?” cried the king, peering down to look at them. “And pray, who is your master?”

“The Count Piro,” answered the fox.

“But how does he manage to get pears in midwinter?”

before, he filled it quite full of pears. Then he picked it up in his mouth and trotted off to the palace.

“Your Majesty, as you seemed to like the first basket of pears; I have brought you some more,” said he, “with my master, the Count Piro’s humble respects.”

“Now, surely it is not possible to grow such pears with deep snow on the ground?” cried the king.

“Oh, that never affects them,” answered the fox lightly, “he is rich enough to do anything. But today he sends me to ask if you will give him your daughter in marriage?”

“If he is so much richer than I am,” said the king, “I shall be obliged to refuse. My honour would not permit me to accept his offer.”

“Oh, your Majesty, you must not think that,” replied the fox, “and do not let the question of a dowry trouble you. The Count Piro would not dream of asking anything but the hand of the princess.”

Grace Nugi with members of PNG’s pageant committee in Samoa INSET: Goofing around backstage

LEFT and above: Youths helping to position the memorial stone at Leniata Kepari’s grave in Mt Hagen BELOW: The late Leniata’s head stone

God’s child

The barbaric killing of Leniata Kepari stunned the country and the world. In the wake of national and international condemnation following her death, a women’s movement was formed. STEPHEN LEACH gives his account of how PNG united to remember a wantok

TWO years ago something unspeakably shameful occurred in this nation.

We brutally tortured and killed one of our own daughters. The ramifications of the moment and manner of her death have reverberated throughout every facet of our collectively community. She should not have died; her children should not have been left motherless, and the Papua New Guinean society is still stained by the unjust shedding of her innocent blood.

When the incredibly gruesome images of her broken and burned body, still smoldering and smoking, cradled in a bed of the omnipresent rubbish littering our streets, first begin to emerge on social media, it was absolutely incomprehensible. How could this have happened? We, this ‘Christian’ nation, so deeply religious and pious, how had this abomination happened within our borders? Many refused to believe it.

I was in Port Moresby when she was murdered and while the horrific pictures broke my heart and eyewitness accounts coming out of Hagen grieved the very core of my spirit, what was I to do? I had long held to the guiding principle that I should not involve myself in such situations, that it was not my rightful place as a guest in this nation to attempt to intervene.

I was praying that night and heard the voice of the Lord urgently command me to walk out of my comfort zone and fly to Hagen to

demonstrate to the community that her life had held great significance in the eyes of God, that she was not a witch but a handmaiden of the Lord created in His image, and that her innocent blood was crying out for justice.

I flew to Hagen, went to a small Asian shop and purchased a cross with some flowers, caught the PMV to the intersection where she had been killed and realised to my amazement that the crossroads was clean. It had been meticulously swept to remove the evidence of her suffering. Where there had been an abundance of rubbish, discarded plastics, and blood red buai spit… there was now nothing but a pristine clean environment. I grew even more righteously angry within my spirit that the only time we clean up our streets is to remove our shame.

I asked the lapun mamas marketing nearby to show me where her body had been burned. Even though the ground had been swept, the dark ugly black charred marks were still visible where the agony had happened. I, along with my Chimbu brothers, began to gather up stones from the side of the road and I built an altar upon that spot and put the cross with flowers in the centre of the altar.

I laid down upon the road and started to pray, crying out to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, AND Kepari Leniata that He would rain down conviction upon this land and cause the Church,

the Government, and the society to hear the heart-cry of hundreds of women just like her who have suffered much at the hands of our superstitions and graceless concept of the Gospel. As I prayed and wept in that place, I looked up past my tears and realised I was just outside the gates of a church, and again the Lord broke my heart afresh and anew when I saw the situation through His eyes.

The news of her burning was translated into over a hundred different languages and broadcast around the globe. For many people, their first introduction to PNG was through the awful window of her death.

In the wake of national and international condemnation following her death, a grassroots women’s movement, birthed and led by a diverse and multidimensional group of people, came together and successfully created a forceful coalition of many divergent women’s groups within PNG. We collectively arose, the “National Haus Krai” was held, not only in PNG but also in 11 different nations around the world, and we demanded justice and an end to the epidemic of violence targeting mainly women and girls in PNG.

The staging of the haus krai was a gloriously moment of hard won unity among women’s groups in PNG led by PNG women. It was mothers arising for their daughters. It was profoundly historic. The Lord divinely ordered it.

We had briefly held possession of transformational momentum after the haus krai. The eyes of the nation and the world were upon us. Laws were changed, apologies were issued from the Government to the women of this nation, we wept and embraced each other while congratulating each other on a job well done.

For nearly one year after she was stripped naked, bound with ropes, brutally tortured with iron rods heated red hot in a fire, slashed with bush knives, and at last tossed upon a pile of rubbish, bathed in petrol, and ignited by cigarettes and matches, the broken and burned earthly tabernacle of flesh that once sheltered Kepari was stuffed into a locker at the morgue in Hagen. No one would claim her body. Everyone was scared to touch her body. While we marched and spoke of what had been achieved in the aftermath of her death, her body was still lying unclaimed and abandoned in a morgue. After a while, when there was no more space, another body was placed on top of hers in storage.

When everyone else had forgotten her body, a lovely and humble woman named Ruth Jewels Kissam, also a daughter of Enga, discovered that her remains were yet unburied and started a quest to see that Kepari be honoured in death. Ruth was determined to overcome societal taboos and the complexity of the system to ensure that Kepari’s body would be laid to rest. When Ruth was told

that it was a K100 fee for each day that Kepari’s body had been stuffed in that morgue, she pressed on undaunted and refused to bow down to that golden calf of greed so highly exalted over this nation.

After months of hard work Ruth was finally able to claim Kepari’s body. A Lutheran missionary named Anton Lutz, along with a handful of people from the local Assemblies of God, YWAM, and Catholic communities, came together to stand behind Ruth and finally bury Kepari just before the one-year anniversary of her death. They didn’t publicise what they had done, they didn’t do it for fame or any other ulterior motive… they buried her because it was what was RIGHT, what was JUST, and what was HOLY in the sight of the Lord.

The wantok community in America came together to help honour Kepari in death. A lovely lady named Theclah Taylor living in Los Angeles sent the memorial grave marker from the States and I carried it from Port Moresby up to Hagen.

It was a global community, interwoven out of many nations, that came together to remember Kepari, on that day I witnessed the very best of who we are as Papua New Guineans. I saw anew our fierce sense of kinship, our love, our faith, our abiding hope in the promise of tomorrow, and our unrestrained generosity. Change is coming, and it must start within each of us.

Home is where Home

The magnetic heart is

Animal of the week

Mia Mia

BY CARRIE ARNOLD

FOR loggerhead sea turtles, home is where your (magnetic) heart is.

After hatching on beaches around the world, these huge marine reptiles undertake multiyear, epic migrations at sea. Then, the turtles return to the exact spot where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs.

Scientists have long known that the turtles, like many animals, navigate at sea by sensing the invisible lines of the magnetic field, similar to how sailors use latitude and longitude. But they didn’t know how the turtles were able to return to the very spot where they were born.

Now a new study has the answer: The turtles also rely on Earth’s magnetic field to find their way home. That’s because each part of the coastline has its own magnetic signature, which the animals remember and later use as an internal compass.

It’s not an easy commute, though the magnetic field changes slowly, and loggerheads have to shift their nesting sites in response, according to the study,

published January 15 in Current Biology

“It’s pretty fascinating how these creatures can find their way through this vast expanse of nothing,” said study co-author J Roger Brothers, a biology graduate student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Loggerhead turtles, which weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), have an enormous range that encompasses all but the most frigid waters of the world’s oceans.

Though they travel hundreds of miles out to sea, the carnivores seem to prefer coastal habitats, and are the most abundant of all marine turtle species in US waters.

Every year, thousands of volunteers walk along Florida’s sandy beaches to count loggerhead nesting sites, which provides scientists with a rich population data set.

At the same time, researchers have been tracking subtle shifts in Earth’s magnetic field along Florida’s coasts, using compasses to measure how the field’s strength and other properties change over time.

So if the loggerhead sea turtles really use Earth’s magnetic field to return to the beaches where they were born, then shifts in the field should lead to corresponding shifts in loggerhead turtle nesting sites.

Brothers and colleagues combined the citizen-science data on turtle nests and official data about the magnetic field to create a dynamic map, which showed how each variable changed over time. Their results supported their hypothesis: The loggerhead sea turtle nests moved in tandem with the shifts in the magnetic field.

“The important thing about this paper is that it uses a different measure of the importance of magnetic navigation by looking at the movement of turtles. That hasn’t been done before, and it’s really great work,” said Peter Meylan, a marine biologist at Eckerd College in Florida who wasn’t involved in the study.

– National Geographic

That hairy guy on the bus

BY CHRISTINE DELL’AMORE and ASHLEIGH DELUCA

WHEN one commuter boarded Seattle’s D line bus, a fellow rider was astonished at her insistence in finding a window seat.

But Eclipse really needed that window seat. She’s a two-year-old black lab-mastiff mix, and she knows to watch for her stop, the dog park, where she meets her owner Jeff Young.

The first time Eclipse took the bus by herself, Young had not yet finished his cigarette when the bus arrived. Rather than wait for her human to finish what he was doing, Eclipse jumped on the bus alone and took a window seat.

When the bus stopped at the dog park, she knew to get off.

Young, only a few minutes behind on another bus, met up with Eclipse at the park. Since then, Eclipse has been known to hop on the bus by herself and wait for Young to catch up.

Though Young was surprised the first time this happened, it has become part of their routine now. “Probably once a week I get a phone call,” Young told KomoNews.com. “‘Hi. I have your dog Eclipse here on Third and Bell.’ I have to tell them, ‘No, she’s fine. She knows what she’s doing.’”

The transit agency is far from upset by Eclipse’s presence. They love the dog because she loves the

bus, a spokesman said.

Eclipse doesn’t seem to have many dissenters. In fact, when she climbs onto the bus, some faces light up with a smile.

“She makes everybody happy,” said one fellow commuter. “How can you not love this face?”

Eclipse is not the first animal to prefer the comfort of modern public transportation. From birds on a train to goats on a bus – adaptable animals are learning how to get around our expanding cities.

– National Geographic

RIGHT: Eclipse settling down for a comfortable ride to the park

MEET the independent Miss Mia.

She is a domestic short haired cat, who is shy at fi rst but once she knows you she is more social and loves to sit on laps.

She is trained to use a litter tray/box and does not scratch furniture. She would be best suited to a couple or a single adult. Mia is seven-yearsold (that’s in human years of course).

If you think Miss Mia would be an ideal feline companion for you, contact Brigitte at the RSPCA on 325 2363, 7198 2200, 7196 0436 or email your interest or enquiries to rspca@rspca.org. pg

325 2363, 7196 0436, 7198 2200, fax: 325 6833 or email your enquiries to rspca@rspca. org.pg

Power transfer

LEFT: Myself with my father at a Faiwol mumu honouring his visit in 1980 to Western Province

RIGHT: Israel looking down toward the Jordan Valley where Samuel had the people travel Pictures: FRANK MECKLENBURG

FRANK MECKLENBURG continues on the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel. Before leaving the people in Saul’s hands, Samuel made sure his record was clean before the eyes of God.

AFTER the elders brought Saul out from his hiding place and he was standing among the men, Samuel declared Saul as King. “Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”” (1 Samuel 10:24 NIV) After Samuel’s declaration, the people shouted, “Long live the King.” Then Samuel again instructed the people about the legal aspects of having a king and wrote the regulations of kingship on a scroll for future reference.

Following the meeting at Mizpah, some men despised Saul and refused to bring him gifts to honour the new king. “But some troublemakers said, ‘How can this fellow save us?’” (1 Samuel 10:27 NIV) Saul did not let this bother him at least at that time.

Samuel then instructed all the people to travel to Gilgal in the Jordan Valley near the Jordan River to reaffirm Saul as King of Israel. It seems that 1 Samuel 10:8 is referring to another time King Saul travelled to Gilgal to wait seven days for Prophet Samuel to arrive.

It was right after the gathering at Mizpah that Samuel asked the people or perhaps it was only the

leaders to walk to Gilgal. “Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship.”” (1 Samuel 11:14 NIV) There had to be a good reason for going there because it was at least a 45mile walk through the mountains and down to Jordan Valley. There were no PMVs, buses or cars.

Gilgal, just on the west side of the Jordan River, was known as an important place. It is where Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua and the children of Israel miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. After crossing, the

Shopping link

BY KAREN WEAVER and TIM SCOTT

FOR years, Jennifer prayed that someone would go with her to bring God’s Word to her own people. Slowly, Jennifer has watched that dream unfold.

In 2013, she spent a few nights at a guest house in Kokopo. While there she was happy to learn from Jim and Diana Parker that the guest house had New Testaments

available in her heart language. After purchasing a carton of them, she returned to her village and shared the precious books with her extended family. They were grateful to be able to read the scriptures in their heart language. Her mother declared, “God’s Word is much clearer and easier to understand in Mengan than in the trade language!”

Early in 2014, a language development team needed a contact person in the Mengan area and asked the Parkers about Jennifer. Unfor-

Israelites set up camp in Gilgal, which was the doorway into the Promised Land for them.

After arriving in Gilgal, God required that the men be circumcised for purification. “And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.

He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.’” (Joshua 4:20–24 NIV)

Some believe that this was the initial site of the Wilderness Tabernacle in the Promised Land during the first battles with the Canaanites after entering the Land. These is possibly the reason that this location had so much religious meaning to the Prophet Samuel.

Because of what happened in Gilgal, the people of Israel knew

the spiritual significance of the place and this is the reason Samuel chose this location to transfer leadership from himself to Saul the chosen King of Israel.

Once the people were in Gilgal as a nation, they reaffirmed the kingship of Saul. The text mentions that they offered fellowship offerings and had a great celebration. The fellowship offering, also known as peace offering or offering of well being, was to be eaten and it was required that a portion of the offering should be given to the Levites, the priests. In some ways it is like the people bringing their food and meat and offering it to God to celebrate a special event in His presence. It is like celebrating with a huge mumu feast.

“So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites held a great celebration.” (1 Samuel 11:15 NIV)

This was the time for Samuel to speak his farewell to the people. He reminded the people that he was a good leader because he had listened to their request and had given them a king. He wanted them to know that it was good that

someone younger was replacing him because he was very old with gray hair. It is interesting that he reminds the people that his two sons are still available because you may remember that the people asked for a king because Samuel’s sons, who should have taken his place, were dishonest and accepted bribes.

He continues to remind the people in the presence of God and King Saul that during all the years of his leadership, he had been a good leader. He had not stolen any oxen or donkeys, had not cheated or oppressed anyone, and he had not accepted any bribes. The scripture in Job adds meaning to this. “They drive away the orphan’s donkey and take the widow’s ox in pledge.” (Job 24:3 NIV)

Samuel said if he had done any wrong, he wanted to make it right. From what he said it seems that he had a clean record and the people accepted what he said and they all testified to this before God. We must give credit to Samuel for wanting no wrongs to cloud his record after leaving his leadership role.

Send your feedback to frankmecklenburgzp@gmail.com

tunately, they had neither her cell phone number nor her e-mail address. That door seemed to be closed. However, just two days later they were in a grocery store when they heard someone say their names. They looked up, and there was Jennifer! Both the Park-

ers and Jennifer were happy to be able to renew their friendship.

Jennifer marvelled, “I didn’t need to go to the grocery store that day, but my sister asked me to go buy something for her. God sent me in answer to my prayers.”

Through her renewed friendship with the Parkers and other team members, Jennifer learned about a small group which was planning to visit her village. This

group wanted to find out the degree to which the local people were using and understanding the Mengan Scriptures. Jennifer was able to help them by recording some portions of the gospel of John, thus once again having a part in bringing God’s Word to her own people.

Although Jennifer works as a nurse in another part of Papua New Guinea, she has not forgotten the people of her own language group. Jennifer looks forward to seeing what will happen in the future as the Mengan people grow spiritually through reading God’s Word in their heart language.

Frank Mecklenburg

Freelance journalist and CEO of Zion Pathways

Tabubil

to Bereina-Kairuku

Mama Goi and Betz

Nicole and Nadia

“HOW many cigars do you smoke a day?”

“About 10.”

“What do they cost you?”

“Twenty cents a piece.”

“My, that’s two dollars a day. How long have you been smoking?”

“Thirty years.”

“Two dollars a day for thirty years is a lot of money.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Do you see that office building on the corner?”

“Yes.”

“If you had never smoked in your life you might own that fine building.”

“Do you smoke?”

“No, never did.”

“Do you own that building?”

“No.”

THE teacher of the earth science class was lecturing on map reading.

After explaining about latitude, longitude, degrees and minutes the teacher asked, “Suppose I asked you to meet me for lunch at 23 degrees, 4 minutes north latitude and 45

degrees, 15 minutes east longitude…?”

After a confused silence, a voice volunteered, “I guess you’d be eating alone.”

THERE was a little boy, his mother was pregnant.

He asked: What’s in your stomach mom?

Mother: Uhm... It’s your brother.

The next day in class the teacher asks: Who has a little brother or sister?

The little boy: I have a brother but my mother ate him.

SARDAR was in an airplane going to Bombay. While it was preparing to land he shouted excitedly: “Bombay … Bombay!”

An annoyed air hostess said: “Be silent!”

Sardar: “Ok. Ombay Ombay!”

WHAT did Batman say to Robin before he got in the Batmobile?

Get in the Batmobile!

Did you know?

Surprising Disney facts

THE Power Puff Girls got their inspiration from three ladies any Disney lover will recognise: the three good fairies from Sleeping Beauty.

THE love stories in Frozen and Maleficent were huge for Disney, because the ultimate acts of love that came at the end didn’t come from men.

Red Skull

A VENEZUELAN man has taken body modification to the extreme in a bid to make himself look like comic book super villain Red Skull.

THE Queen who was in power during Sleeping Beauty was never actually given a name at any point in the film.

REMEMBER the sad, slump voice of Eeyore? That’s the same voice of the badass leader of the transformers, Optimus Prime.

Henry Damon, 37, had already had several subdermal implants on his forehead before having part of his nose removed in order to achieve the right Marvel madman look.

Despite the drastic surgery, Mr Damon, from Caracas, Venezuela, is getting ready to take it even further to fulfil his dream.

The married father, who now calls himself Red Skull, also tattooed his eyeballs black before adding red and back face tattoos to look like the comic book villain. Red Skull first appeared in 1947

as the Nazi agent arch-enemy of Marvel hero Captain America and most recently appeared in the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger, played by Hugo Weaving.

After meeting up with medschool dropout Emilio Gonzalez, who specialises in tattooing and extreme body surgery, Mr Damon ‘knew that this was his opportunity’, a friend said.

“He has loved comic books since he was a kid and always dreamed of being Red Skull, but never got round to doing it,” friend Pablo Hernandez said.

Before the surgery, Mr Damon underwent several physical and psychological tests, according to his ‘surgeon’ Mr Gonzalez.

“Henry aka Red Skull is a physi-

cally and intellectually healthy person,” Mr Gonzalez said.

“He’s an excellent son, husband and father, who has an extreme taste for body modification.

“Most of my customers know that body modification is the last step of body art, everyone knows very well what they want and as well as Henry, many of them are waiting for me for many years to make their dreams a reality.”

Mr Gonzalez added that Mr Damon is not done with his transformation, and is about to take it even further.

Mr Gonzalez said: “Next will be silicone implants on the cheekbones, chin and cheeks.

“Then we will tattoo his entire face red and then he will be Red Skull.” – Mail Online

CLOCKWISE: Mr Damon poses with a friend before he started his process to become Red Skull. Step one: The married father began his process by putting subdermal implants on his forehead. Mr Damon’s goal is to look like Marvel character Red Skull, portrayed on screen by Hugo Weaving in 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger

1D ticket sales blues in Aussie

SEEING One Direction live is a dream come true for most young girls, but it appears the boy band are no longer selling out.

Ticket prices to the band’s On The Road Again tour have been slashed to half price for Sydney’s show on Sunday at Allianz Stadium and the Brisbane performance at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, according to website LastTix. com

B Reserve tickets that were $139.90 (K370) have been reduced to $69.90 (K186), with C Reserve tickets dropping from $99.90 (K270) to $50 (K130).

The band made up of Harry Styles, 21, Zayn Malik, 22, Liam Payne, 21, Louis Tomlinson, 23, and Niall Horan, 21, will kick off their tour on Saturday night in Sydney with tickets still available for the show at full price.

In May last year tickets went on sale for the second round of shows released when the pre-sale tickets were still not sold out of the first round of dates.

When One Direction first came to Australia in 2012, tickets sold out in just three minutes.

And when they returned in 2013 for an arena trek, they proved to be another quick sell-out.

“We can’t wait to come back to Australia and play for all our fans again on the On the Road Again 2015 Tour,” Liam said in a statement last year.

“Our Australian fans have been there for us since day one, and we always have such a great time there. We’ll see you all in February.”

Possible affected sales may also be due to steep ticket prices.

One Sydney mother of two young girls eight and 10, who would have jumped at the chance of seeing the band last year, told the MailOnline: “It would cost $400 for us to go and see the band as a family and we would be miles away from the stage.”

Lego Dr Who

DOCTOR Who Lego is about to become a reality – and production is starting later this year.

The successful pitch, which was sent to Lego’s Ideas website, included plans for a Tardis and figures including Peter Capaldi and David Tennant.

Lego have yet to reveal exactly what will feature within the set.

The initial concept, created by Doctor Who fan Andrew Clark, included monsters and villains like the Angel and a Dalek.

The images he has shared are of models he has made, rather than pictures of what the final product will look like.

Nicole devastated over split

NICOLE Scherzinger is “devastated’’ over her split from Lewis Hamilton.

The former Pussycat Doll – who recently called time on her seven year romance with the Formula 1 driver – admitted she has been left extremely upset by the break up but insists the decision to end the relationship was mutual.

She told The Sun newspaper:

“I’m devastated that it didn’t work out. It was the hardest decision we had to make, but we made it together.

“I love Lewis and I know he loves me.

“We wish nothing but happiness and the very best for one another.

I’m trying to stay strong in my faith right now.’’

The 36-year-old singer and Lewis, 30, are believed to have had a series of rows over the festive period with one resulting in the racing driver being chucked out of the London apartment owned by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber where Nicole has been staying for the duration of her stint in the West End’s revival of Cats

A source explained: “Nicole had enough and wanted Lewis to go, but he wasn’t prepared to so started shouting, demanding she opened up.

“A staff member at the building was concerned about the noise so told them to sort things out.’’

The pair’s hectic schedules are said to have been at the heart of the split.

The couple had been spending less and less time together after Lewis – who bagged his second F1 championship last year – revealed plans to go for a third and Nicole joined the London-based production.

Married!

JOHNNY Depp and Amber Heard are married, People reports.

The site claims that the pair – who got engaged in December 2012 – tied the knot at their home in Los Angeles on Tuesday. They are expected to stage a bigger ceremony on the actor’s private island Little Hall’s Pond Cay in the Bahamas this weekend.

PageSix has reported that the guest list will be a modest 50 people at the Bahamas ceremony, and that Amber will wear a dress by Stella McCartney.

Another source reported by E! recently revealed that Johnny, 51, who has two children, Lily-Rose, 15, and Jack, 12, with ex-girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, couldn’t wait to make Amber, 28, his wife.

The source said: “He’s completely

in love and can’t wait!”

Despite their 14-year relationship and two children, Johnny never married French singer Vanessa.

However, it is not the first marriage for the actor, who was wed to make-up artist Lori Anne Allison from 1983 to 1985.

Johnny was just 20-years-old while Lori was 25, when they married at a small family ceremony in Florida.

Meanwhile, Johnny and Amber are believed to have chosen to wed this month in order to fit in with their hectic work schedules.

A friend previously explained: “She’s filming a movie in London, and he’s getting ready to film the next Pirates of the Caribbean in Australia. So this is the only time that everyone could get together.”

The duo’s relationship was ru-

moured to be on the rocks last year, but a pal recently insisted they are now in “a really good place”.

Johnny spoke to Extra in 2010 about why he hadn’t got married to his longterm partner Vanessa.

“I never found myself needing that piece of paper,” he revealed.

“Marriage is really from soul to soul, heart to heart. You don’t need somebody to say, okay you’re married.”

He added: “If Vanessa wanted to get hitched, why not. But the thing is, I’d be so scared of ruining her last name! She’s got such a good last name.”

Johnny has previously dated supermodel Kate Moss for four years, and has been engaged to Winona Ryder, Jennifer Grey and actress Sherilyn Fenn.

The source explained: “Yes there were fights all the time, but a lot of that simply came from the huge issues caused by being in a longdistance relationship.

“It became impossible for them to balance their work commitments.’’ – Mail Online

Kris ‘cried a lot’ after decision

KRIS Jenner

“cried a lot’’ after Bruce Jenner told her he is transitioning into a woman.

The 59-year-old reality TV star, who split from the former Olympian in late 2013 after 22 years of marriage, was initially blindsided by his decision, but now supports him “100 per cent”.

A source close to the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star said:

“Kris had the most difficult time of anyone in the family. She has had a lot to process.”

Happy news: It is the first marriage for Amber, although Johnny was previously married to Lori Anne Allison from 1983 to 1985

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:

Parts Controller – Mobile Planning

RR 2226

Reporting to the Mobile Planning Supervisor, the successful candidate must ensure the ready availability of parts for all planned work orders. This involves liaising closely with the Maintenance Planners, Maintenance Supervisors, Supply / Warehouse personnel and Suppliers to assist in the expedited delivery and return of parts and materials as required.

Key elements of the role include:

planned maintenance related activities.

weekly schedules.

conjunction with Supply personnel. Management System.

status of parts ordered for plan jobs. requirements for schedule jobs.

Selection Criteria:

Australian High Commission

Port Moresby

Vacancy

Program Manager, Family and Sexual Violence Gender Program

About the Gender Program

The Gender Program cuts across all aspects of Australian investment in PNG and has both a policy and development assistance focus. Australia’s Foreign Minister has made gender equality key to all development investments and the Australian High Commission in PNG ensures that women’s empowerment and gender equality are considered in diplomatic engagement, whole of Australian Government programs as well as development investments.

About the role

Under general direction from the Counsellor, the Program Manager Family and Sexual Violence, will provide technical assistance and coordinate the Family and Sexual Violence program of work with external stakeholders and within the Australian High Commission.

The key responsibilities for this position include:

• In collaboration with the Pacific Women program, oversee the implementation of the family and sexual violence pillar of the Pacific Women Program

• Manage technical designs for the Gender and Sports Section about family and sexual violence e.g. designing a program to improve counselling services within PNG to increase support for survivors

• Work with the International Service Provider of Pacific Women to monitor investments under the family and sexual violence pillar

• Coordinate family and sexual violence investments within other Australian Government programs and with other development partners and Government of PNG

• Assist in information collection, research, and preparation of briefings and talking points for presentations connected to family and sexual violence

• Provide technical assistance to implement the Family and Sexual Violence Policy for the Australian High Commission in PNG e.g. provide counselling or referral services to survivors of violence; in consultation with staff, develop safety plans for emergencies; monitor the budget and manage associated finances

If you are interested in applying for this position, please go to the Australian High Commission Port Moresby website, www.png.highcommission.gov.au and click on the Positions Vacant tab to access the Candidate Information Pack. This will provide more information about the position, the selection criteria, how to apply and the selection process.

Note: All applications must address the selection criteria, include a resume and list at least two referees.

Senior 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

Applications close on Friday 20 February 2015. To apply please submit your application to:

The Human Resources Manager pngahc.recruitment@dfat.gov.au

(Late applications will not be considered)

The Australian High Commission promotes a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and is a smoke and buai free environment. All recruitment is based solely on merit. Offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory medical and local police security checks

The Public Solicitor’s Office is a Constitutional Institution with the responsibility of providing legal assistance to persons who are eligible for legal aid. The office is now seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and experienced person for the position of Deputy Public Solicitor (Civil)

Qualifications: Degree in Law is admitted to practice as a Lawyer in PNG and is a Lawyer who has practiced in PNG for 10 years or more.

Knowledge: Constitution and all related Laws of PNG

Skills: Leadership, advocacy, litigation, supervisory and management

Experience: 10 years as a Lawyer and 5 years in Supervisory and Management Levels.

Interested applicants to forward application including CV and references in triplicate to:

The Public Solicitor Public Solicitor’s Office 2nd Floor, Garden City Building P O Box 5812

BOROKO

Attention: Human Resource Manager

Applications for this position close on Friday 27th February 2015. Job description will be provided on request. For Enquiries call: 325 8866.

Authorized by:

Mr Frazer Pitpit

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA PUBLIC SOLICITORS OFFICE

SOME of the students of PNG Life Education institute now doing their job placements at Paci fi c Industries, Port Moresby. They are seen here with PNGLEI Director Rain

Gini

INVESTMENT PROMOTION AUTHORITY

Papua New Guinea Associations Incorporation Act

Reg., Sec. 2. Form 1 Notice of Intention to Apply for the Incorporation of an Association

I, Aihi URARU, of Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea person authorized by the committee of the association known as

KAIRUKU RENAISSACE ASSOCIATION INC. 5- 101371

Give notice that I intend to apply for the incorporation of the association under the Associations Incorporation Act:

The following are the details of the prescribed qualifications for incorporation as specified in Section 2 of the Act:

REFER AS1 BAR CODE # 84453 FOR MORE DETAILS OF THE UPLOAD OF THE OBJECTIVES IN THE CONSTITUTION.

This Notice has been approved by the Registrar of Companies Dated 27/01/2015.

The validation code for this Notice is ASSOCIATION –83901946. To check the validity of this Notice enter http://www.ipa.gov.pg/pngassociations/verify

/5 - 101371/ASSOCIATION-83901946.html in your browser.

Notice generated 27 January 2015 02:16 PM PGT

Note: A person may within one month after the publication of this notice, lodge with the registrar an objection to the incorporation of the proposed association in accordance with Section 4 of the Act.

Registrar notifies students

THIS IS to advise parents and students that University of Papua New Guinea Academic Year 2015 will begin in March. Please take note of the following points below.

Arrival for new students

New students must start arriving on the 1st of March 2015. New students who arrive before this date will have to fi nd accommodation outside of the campus until 1st of March. Continuing students must start arriving on the campus on March 7, 2015.

Orientation

Orientation for new and re-enrolling students will be conducted on the 3rd of March 2015. It is important that new students must attend.

School Fee Payment

All fees must be paid before 20th February 2015. The account number is UPNG TUITION FEE ACCOUNT: 1000584013 BSP WAIGANI BRANCH.

Registration

Registration for new and re-enrolling students commences on the 5th of March 2015. Continuing students register on the 9th of March and continue to the 13th of March. However, early registration will start on February 23, 2015.

Commencement of classes

Classes for academic year 2015 start on the March 16, 2015.

Graduation 2015

Graduation 2015 will be on the 10th April 2015 School of Humanities and Social Sciences listing for study through External Mode has been sent to the respective Open College Centers. Please check with the nearest Open College Centers.

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:

MANAGER CONCENTRATOR

Reference: 20150205

The Processing Business Unit is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced person for the Manager Concentrator role. Reporting to the General Manager Processing, you will be responsible for the management of the Processing Operations.

You will manage all aspect of the mill operations when the feed enters the SAG Mill stockpiles until the concentrate (CCon and PCon) are dispatched down the concentrate pipelines. You will also manage the handling and ordering of all concentrator consumables and the disposal of plant tailings via the Moscow Tunnel. You will assist the Chief Metallurgist in defining the scope of development test work, reviewing and implementing the recommendation following test work, and developing cost effective routes to improve plant performance. You will also work with Manager Technical Process Services to evaluate and implement proposals that will improve plant performance and availability.

The Manager Concentrator Operations will promote and uphold the OTML Charter and contribute to achieve OTML’s strategic objectives of workplace health and safety and zero harm, through participation in the safety programs of the Process Plant.

To be successful for this role, you must have University Degree in Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering or Metallurgical Science with more than 10 years signification exposure to metallurgical flotation & commination practices. Previous work experience with a multicultural workforce, good communication skills, ability to demonstrate sound judgment and easily adapt to operational changes will be highly regarded.

MANAGER BIGE

Reference: 20150205-1

Reporting to the General Manager Processing, you will be responsible for the general management and good corporate governance of the Bige Operations, which primarily includes the Lower Ok Tedi dredging project, stockpiling dredged material on the East and West Banks of the Ok Tedi and the safe storage of pyrite concentrate (PCon) in storage pits on the West Bank of the Ok Tedi.

You will maintain the contract dredging operation (circa 10 million cubic metres per annum), manage the associated earthworks fleet at Bige and safe storage of PCon in order to minimise the impact on the riverine environment. The role also includes overall management of the site including all OTML personnel, contractors, camp infrastructure and utilities.

You will also ensure that all processes and procedures conform to standards and specifications hence achieving a high-level quality assurance and quality control ratings within Bige Operations. Developing and implementing strategies that optimise the value chain incorporating all aspects of dredging, through the implementation of cost-effective short and long term dredging plans.

To be successful in this role, you must have Tertiary Qualifications in Mining or Civil Engineering, with more than 10 years’ of operational management experience, preferably in mining. Certificate of Competency with PNG Mineral Resource Authority (i.e. Registered Mine Manager) will be desirable.

MANAGER KIUNGA OPERATIONS

Reference: 20150205-2

Reporting to the General Manager Operations, you will primarily be responsible for the general management and good corporate governance of Kiunga Operations, in ensuring copper concentrate is processed and stock piled for export.

The responsibility of the role includes management of Wharf operations and stevedoring at the Kiunga OTML wharf - loading and unloading of OTML chattered vessels and convoy trucks. These also includes ensuring efficient management of infrastructure support services utilities and HR Services in Kiunga while providing sufficient assistance to other OTML department satellite stations in Kiunga.

To be considered, you must have a Degree in Engineering, a Certificate of Competency with Mines Department and have more than 5 years CuCon processing and downstream management experience. The incumbent must show initiative, judgement and a degree of independence in identifying problems, researching solutions and taking appropriate action to develop the capabilities, systems and performance of the Kiunga Operations Team.

These are challenging senior 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 20th February, 2015.

Tabubil Engineering Ltd is seeking the services of a suitably qualified personnel for the following position.

HARDWARE STORE MANAGER

The successful applicant must have minimum of 10 years experience covering all aspects of Counter Sales, Sales Documentation, Customer Service, Stock Control, Stock Ordering, Staff Supervision and Computerised Stock and Sales systems and must have strong safety focus.

Applicant must also have extensive knowledge of Builders and Plumbers Hardware, Electrical Goods, Paint, Automotive Parts, Home Appliances and Safety Equipment.

Salary will be negotiated at the time of interview and will be dependant on experience. Single accommodation, meals, annual leave airfares after 12 months and R & R airfares after 6 months to point of hire will be provided.

Only those who meet the above criteria should apply to:

The General Manager

Tabubil Engineering Ltd P.O. Box 431 Tabubil, Western Province Fax: 6499108

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.

More growth for bank

A COMMITMENt to growth throughout the Pacific region has continued for Papua New Guinea-based Bank of South Pacific, with the acquisition of new Pacific operations from Westpac and launch of a new subsidiary. Bank of South Pacific’s (BSP) regional expansion has taken a significant step forward with the acquisition of several Westpac operations in the Pacific, and the launch of a new asset fi nance subsidiary, BSP Finance.

PNG-based BSP has agreed to buy Westpac’s banking operations in Samoa, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga for A$125 million in a deal that continues a strategy to expand throughout the Pacific.

BSP already operates in Solomon Islands and Fiji, in addition to its main PNG business. It has a history of growing through acquisition, having bought Habib Bank’s Fiji assets in 2006, the National Bank of Solomon Islands in 2007, and National Bank of Fiji and Colonial Fiji Life Insurance Limited in 2009.

‘It is a regional strategy. We have and will continue to have a strong presence in the region for a very long time,’ BSP Chairman, Kostas Constantinou, said.

New fi nance arm

The new BSP Finance branding

At the same time, BSP has launched BSP Finance, an asset fi nance business aimed at offering fi nance deals of between K20,000 and K3 million. The move will enable the bank to compete in this space with not only ANZ and Westpac, but also Credit Corporation, which BSP tried unsuccessfully to acquire in late 2013.

BSP Finance’s Jodi Herbert PNG Country Manager for the newly-formed subsidiary, Jodi Herbert, explained that BSP had identified opportunities to provide both new and existing clients with asset fi nance services.

‘It’s now about going back to our clients and saying that we can do this business for you as and we are keen to do it,’ Herbert told Business Advantage PNG.

‘There’s a big part of the market where this is the case.’

After launching BSP Finance in Fiji in late 2014, Herbert added that BSP Finance would also investigate introducing the subsidiary in additional Pacific countries, including those territories

Nautilus targets Solwara 1 production in three years

acquired from Westpac.

Westpac future

Westpac says its commitment to PNG remains unchanged despite the agreement to offload several of its Pacific operations.

PNG’s fi rst bank, Westpac also plans to maintain operations in Fiji where for 113 years it has been the country’s longest-serving institution.

‘Our decision to sell our operations in these nations reflects our desire to increase focus on our growth plans in the larger markets of PNG and Fiji, where we have a strong history,’ said Westpac Chief Executive Rob Whitfield.

With its ties to Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Whitfield added that the PNG and Fiji markets supported Westpac’s international aspirations.

‘Indeed, we continue to see significant opportunities in both Fiji and PNG markets and will continue to invest in expanding our infrastructure and capability in the region.’ Completion of the acquisition, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected by mid-2015.

www.bapng.com

AFTER overcoming several delays, development of Nautilus Minerals’ deep sea copper-gold mining project, Solwara 1, has taken significant steps forward in recent months. Business Advantage PNG talks with Nautilus Chief Executive Officer Michael Johnston about Papua New Guinea’s worldfi rst project. The vessel Nautilus used during the 2010-2011 exploration program.

Credit: Nautilus.

Deep sea miner Nautilus Minerals Inc believes it fi nally has a clear development path leading to production at the Solwara 1 coppergold project in Papua New Guinea, potentially the world’s fi rst deep seafloor mining operation. The pioneering project, located in the mineral-rich Manus basin, was originally expected to begin production in late 2013, but development was delayed by a number of setbacks, including a commercial dispute with the PNG Government.

Nautilus’ progress at Solwara 1 has, however, taken a positive turn after the company resolved the dispute with the state, and signed a contract with Dubai-based Marine Assets Corporation (MAC) in November 2014 to provide the vessel and shipyard for the operation. The vessel, which will measure 227 metres long and 40 metres wide, will provide enough space to accommodate 180 people, and is ex-

pected to be delivered by MAC by the end of 2017.

In November, Nautilus also completed negotiations with the PNG Government to allocate a 15 per cent stake in the project (worth US$120 million) to state nominee, Eda Kopa, a subsidiary of Petromin PNG Holdings.

World

fi rst

With these milestones, Chief Executive Officer Michael Johnston tells Business Advantage PNG that Nautilus was confident of developing Solwara 1 into the world’s fi rst deep-sea mining operation. He explains that once MAC has delivered the vessel to the region Nautilus would aim to start producing almost immediately.

‘As soon as it arrives on site with all the equipment—we’ve estimated about three months of integration of equipment and getting the vessel to the Solwara 1 site from when we take delivery,’ he says.

‘If we get delivery of the vessel with more of that equipment already on it, then that three months will be shortened.’

MAC will own and provide marine management of the vessel, which will be constructed in China by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd and be chartered to Nautilus for a minimum of five years.

CONTINUED PAGE 60

NAUTILUS Chief Executive Of fi cer Michael Johnston. Credit: Nautilus

THE vessel Nautilus used during the 2010-2011 exploration program. Credit: Nautilus.

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

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

ACCOUNTANT

Port Moresby

LCR Group is a large, privately owned company providing mining and industrial services to the resources, construction and heavy industry sectors within Australia and Papua New Guinea. We are currently expanding our management team within Papua New Guinea and an opportunity now exists for an experience Accountant.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

preferred)

and practices, credit management desirable desirable with staff at all levels of the organisation very industrial environment

OTHER REQUIREMENTS and development programs. involved in a team environment.

Job board begins for 2015

ARE you a job seeker looking for a job?

Are you employed but tired of doing the same old job?

Are you after a promising job?

Are you a graduate looking for a job?

You have the chance now to meet up with the PNGJOBSEEK Marketing Team at the Vision City to have a chat and learn more about how to use the services provided by PNGJOBSEEK to easily search and apply for jobs advertised various organizations on the job board.

Bring along your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and hand over to the team so they

will register you as a job seeker. Once your CV is uploaded on-line: www.pngjobseek.com and job alerts created, you will be receiving job alerts within your preferred job categories via your digicel mobile phone or via email. This will enable you to search or apply instantly on jobs advertised on the on-line job board; PNGJOBSEEK.

The scheduled dates for your chance to meet the PNGJOBSEEK team to hand in your CV as well as register as job seekers are as follows;

Nautilus makes headway

ability to deal with all levels of the organisation. This position will be based in Port Moresby. and ongoing training.

to apply, please forward your application, complete listed candidates will be required to undergo a full

Advanced workforce

Nautilus hopes to take advantage of the existing skill base in the local mining industry as much as possible to build its workforce, with an aim of including over 50 per cent PNG nationals.

Before the vessel’s arrival the staff will require extensive training of the mining systems for operation of its electrical and mechanical components, Johnston explains. ‘As soon as it arrives on site with all the equipment—we’ve estimated about three months of integration of equipment and getting the vessel to the Solwara 1 site from when we take delivery’

‘The machines are all driven by electrical and hydraulic motors. There’s a lot of hightech electronics—everything’s done via cameras and fibre optic cables connecting the machines to the control rooms, with data and visuals shown on computer screens,’ Johnston explained.

‘There’s a lot of training involved with that stuff. We’re in the process of looking at building a simulator to help accelerate that training, because we’ve got three years before we get delivery. The challenge for us is to try and get as many national staff into the mix as possible.’

With negotiations now complete, Johnston said PNG Prime Minister Peter O’ Neill was showing his support by reaffi rming that the Government wants to be strongly involved with the project.

‘The people of Papua New Guinea don’t want to be bystanders, they want to be active participants in the development of their resources,’ says Johnston.

‘The thing with any project in PNG is to maintain dialogue with regulators, and stakeholders. For a project like ours, where there’s a lot of interest in it, there’s opportunity to try and establish best practices in how to do things right the fi rst time, with input from all key stakeholders.’

www.bapng.com

FROM PAGE 58

NAUTILUS’ production support vessel. Credit: Nautilus.

IMPACT PROJECTS

Maintenance/Recapitalization (Extension) & New Infrastructure Development [Higher Education Infrastructure & Rehabilitation]

Total amount funded by the Government under the Higher Education Infrastructure, Rehabilitation and Recapitalization is K164,500,000.00

Universities have received the following under ongoing:

1.Maintenance/Renovation

- Staff houses

Student dormitories

Lecture rooms

- Academic buildings

2.Infrastructure

Roads

Purchase of school vehicles like buses for student use, etc

School fencing

3.Recapitalization

- Purchase of computers

Laboratory equipment

Teaching equipment

- Learning equipment

All universities will commence with new buildings and continue to maintenance and renovate institutional buildings

1.Feasibility

Transitional Developments

Higher Education General Provisional Act 2014

Establishment of Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology

Key Milestones and Achievements

Government funding from the beginning under Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program:

1. 2006 – K50 million for four State Universities for maintenance.

2. 2009 – K30 million for four State Universities for Recapitalization.

3. 2012 – K12 million for four State Universities for Construction, Renovation etc

4. 2014 – K10 million for six universities. Continue construction, Renovation

5. 2015 – K62.5 million for eight universities - UPNG, UOT, UOG, UNRE, DWU, PAU, Western Pacific University, AOG Jubilee

Output including 6 fireman on special forensic studies

Graduates produced (inclusive of OTML funded students).

OTML and FRPG came on board to co-sponsor 76 students from Western Province

Graduates produced out of 145 scholarships awarded. (5 students were terminated)

Successful Introduction of Cert III and Cert IV programs

Survey Architectural Designs Boundary Survey Services Social Mapping

2.Project Unit Team Established working Team headed by a Chairman Appointed a WPU Project Consultant and office admin.

3. Project Visits by WPU Technical Team commenced.

4. Implementing NEC directives on the establishment of WPU

Higher Education General Provisions Act (HEGPA) 2014 was passed in Parliament on 15 May 2014

It was gazetted certified by Speaker of Parliament on 30th October 2014 and Gazetted on the 10th December 2014.

HEGPA 2014 has been in operation since its certification on 30th October 2014.

HEGPA 2014 establishes DHERST; establishes a robust quality assurance system for higher education institutions; establishes conditions to improve sector coordination and funding and requires greater accountability from higher education institutions to government.

DHERST established when HEGPA 2014 was certified by Speaker of Parliament on 30th October 2014.

DPM approved the top management structure of DHERST on 1st August 2014

Three significant milestone historic achievements in 2014 were:

1.The passing of the Higher Education General Provisions Act (HEGPA) of 2014. This act streamlines all activities classified under higher education as activities under one sector. The act, through the ministry of HERST, ensures greater accountability of all institutions and functions within the Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (HERST) sector.

2.The HEGPA of 2014 effectively established the DHERST. The then Office of Higher Education (OHE) was established in the late 1970's as a scholarship clearing house. In the 1990's it evolved into a policy and secretariat office for the Higher Education Sector through the then Commission of Higher Education under a new ministry of Higher Education. As full department, all institutions and functions of the HERST are now streamlined to be effectively coordinated.

3.The Research Science and Technology secretariat was finally established. It is now a separate entity within HERST coordinating critical research, science and technology functions throughout the country.

Funding for infrastructure rehabilitation and recapitalisation has been consistent since 2012. In 2015

K62.5m for Eight (8) universities, UPNG, UOT, UOG, UNRE, DWU, PAU, Western Pacific University and AOG Jubilee have been allocated to continue to improve the physical infrastructure and recapitalise critical learning equipment facilities to improve quality of learning whilst increasing access.

The new University of Western Pacific in the central highlands will begin the construction phase in 2015 and will have the first students enrolled beginning the 2017 academic year. Academic programmes will be installed by the prestigious Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Melbourne, Australia). It will be unique university that is applied technology based with exist points at every year level (from certificate II) to the full degree programmes after 4 years.

Through Maintenance and Rehabilitation PIP funded program, all six universities are undergoing maintenance of infrastructure and labs are being re-equipped with much needed teaching and learning equipment.

Enrolments into tertiary education have been steadily growing at 10% annually. This highlights the ongoing investment into improving and increasing access for tertiary education and training over all. This is projected to double in 2016 and by 2018 we are targeting to increase enrolment by 50%

Funding: 2014 – K17 million for Construction, Feasibility Studies 2014 – K63 million. Grant from Chinese Government for infrastructure development (yet to be finalised) 2015 – K5 million to continue and assist with construction.

Annual budget - Recurrent and PIP for impact projects

2018 onwards.

1.The Department plans to carry out and have commenced the following : Sector Infrastructure Survey in preparation for 2016 and 2017 Continue monitoring and evaluation of all projects under the Higher Education Sector

Continue project visits and meetings

Continue to organise Project Management training etc for relevant officers within the Higher Education Sector.

2015 – 104 Graduate Output anticipated at a cost of K10 million

Re-anchor the TVETSS Program in country while scaling down on the current program with Australia.

Land acquisition and payments end of January

Construction work to commence in February

Negotiation for Chinese Grant Funding commencing March 2015 April – Strengthening MOU with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

DHERST will work closely with universities to assist in consequential amendment so governing legislations of universities.

DHERST to organise consultation workshops with universities to to develop regulations and guidelines to assist in implementing the new Act.

Annual budget - Recurrent and PIP for impact projects 2015 begins the first year of DHERST operating as a Department

The drop in 2011 in the number of Grade 12 students selected was because of alleged cheating by secondary schools in the Highlands Regions. Despite this fact there is a general increase in the number of student selected by 10% annually

Additional five new institutions were included in the IHE list in 2014 and there are more to come on stream in 2015 and onwards to allow access for year 12 graduates.

Our blue ribbon TVET Skills Scholarship Programme targeting school leavers to undertake basic trades skills training in TAFE colleges in Australia has to date produced over 800 graduates who are now engaged in the workforce. This programme will cease in 2018.

Fortnightly Allowance was reintroduce in 2011 as part of financial assistance to assist students with their basic needs like toiletries and stationeries Capacity Diagnostic study of the Office was undertaken in 2013. As a result three consultants (Finance, M&E, Strategic Management) funded by DFAT have been engaged to build capacity with the office. University External Quality Assessments - . All PNG universities now have undergone external quality assessments, designed to help each university to improve its operations and academic quality by addressing recommendations in the quality assessment reports.

The Orders of Papua New Guinea

NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS IN THE 2015 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY AND INDEPENDENCE DAY ANNIVERSARY HONOURS

PAPUA NEW GUINEA HONOURS AND AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

Racing at Sandown tommorrow...

Blinkers go on Thurlow in Chairman’s Stakes

HORSE RACING

TRAINER Robert Smerdon has put the blinkers on Thurlow for Saturday’s Group 3

$150,000 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown to try to secure a start for the smart filly in the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Thurlow, above in the maroon colours, will have the blinkers on in the Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown, replacing the white winkers. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Smerdon said that he would like to see Thurlow win on Saturday if she was going to be a chance of winning the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at

Brockhoff ahead of Chairman’s Stakes

HORSE RACING

BROCKHOFF will make his racing debut in the 2015 Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown on Saturday and trainer

Ciaron Maher admits that he is unsure just how much talent the Lonhro colt has.

Brockhoff has been given three jump outs ahead of his racing debut and he impressed onlookers when he finished second behind 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Secret Agenda in a jump out over 800 metres at Caulfield on January 28 without being asked for an extra effort by jockey Nick Hall.

Maher told Racing Ahead that Brockhoff had yet to be fully tested in trackwork and he said that he was very interested to see how the twoyear-old performed under race pressure in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Sandown this weekend.

“He is quiet sharply bred; he is out of a daughter of Innovation Girl,” Maher said.

“We have just brought him along slowly and he has had three jump outs and each time he has improved and been a bit sharper.

“He trialed at Sandown and sat beside Secret Agenda and was quiet good.

“Damien (Oliver) didn’t ask a lot of it and Nick was pretty similar on Brockhoff.

Caulfield on February 28 and believes the addition of the blinkers will help her cause.

“She would probably have to beat them if she’s going to win a Blue Diamond,” Smerdon told Racing Network.

Thurlow has raced twice for a win and a second while wearing a set of winkers but the Caulfield trainer decided to switch to blinkers after the Sebring filly had become distracted her trackwork.

She was beaten less than half a length on debut when second to Antelucan in the Group 3 $150,000 Emirates

Airline Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 4 before scoring a narrow win in the Listed $120,000 Santa’s Magi-

cal Kingdom Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on November 15.

“She needs a companion to do a genuine piece of work; we thought the blinkers might just help her concentrate a bit more,” Smerdon said.

“I got a really good report from Craig Williams. He said she was a lot sharper than she was in her trial.

Craig Williams has ridden Thurlow at her two starts to date and will be in the saddle again with the filly to jump from barrier two in the nine horse field.

Thurlow is a drifting second favourite at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au behind Danny

O’Brien’s speedy Prompt Return who leads the market

order at $3.10.

Smerdon is happy with the condition of Thurlow as she shapes up for her Autumn Carnival return but has a healthy respect for O’Brien’s colt who has two wins and a second beside his name.

“She is forward enough, but I don’t know how she will measure up against O’Brien’s horse but she looks to be back to where she was in the Spring,” Smerdon said.

O’Brien took Prompt Return to Bendigo for his race debut where he collected the prize with a win in a 900m two year old maiden on October 18 before coming to town to score a two lengths victory in the Group 3 $150,000 racing.com

Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on November 8. But the Beneteau colt couldn’t match it with the Gai Waterhouse trained Carriages who led all of the way to win the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat on November 22 leaving Prompt Return chasing in second spot. Also prominent in the betting is the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Haybah ($4,40) who is coming off a close second to Blue Diamond Stakes top fancy Fontiton.

In the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Preview (F) (1000m) at Sandown on January 26.

“We haven’t really put him under a lot of pressure at home, he has done a lot of his work on the bridle and he had a little squeeze out there at Sandown.

“He seems to have nice ability, hence why we are kicking him off in the Chairman’s.

“We haven’t really pushed the button and it will be interesting to see on Saturday.”

Brockhoff was able to take up a forward position in his jump out at Caulfield on January 28 without being hurried forward by Hall and Maher expects that the untapped colt will be towards the front of the field when he jumps from barrier six in the Chairman’s Stakes.

“He is drawn about the middle of the field and he should get a nice enough run,” Maher said.

Lane eager to test Chivalry at Sandown

HORSE RACING

ONE-time Caulfield Guineas favourite Chivalry makes his return at Sandown on Saturday in what jockey Damian Lane concedes is a tough race.

Lane, who rode his 500th career winner at Wednesday’s Sandown Lakeside meeting, will be having his first ride aboard the Mark Kavanagh-trained colt in the William Hill Plate over 1300m on the Hillside track.

The jockey got his first

feel of Chivalry in a jumpout at Flemington last Friday with the pair sitting wide and shading the opposition in the 800m hit-out.

Saturday’s race has brought together a strong field including Stratum Star, Merion, the undefeated Hauraki, first-up winner Onerous and the consistent performer Profit Share with Chivalry currently on the fourth line of betting at $6.

Lane was impressed with Chivalry’s jumpout but

less so with his wide barrier draw.

He will jump from gate eight in a field reduced to nine runners following the early scratchings of So You Drink and Samartested.

“It was good to get a feel of him for this race,” Lane said.

“It’s a hot race with all the good ones coming back into work now and it’s starting to really heat up.”

Lane doesn’t believe the 1300m trip will pose any problem for the son of

Street Cry first-up, drawing confidence from the colt’s fresh effort last campaign when he won the Group Three McNeill Stakes (1200m) atCaulfield.

Chivalry went on to finish fifth in the Caulfield Guineas before filling the same position in The Vase at Moonee Valley in October prior to being spelled.

The colt has been nominated for the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7 and the Australian Cup (2000m) on March 14.

The first horse to win the Triple Crown in a trotting race was Scott Frost in 1955.

THURLOW, above in the maroon colours, will have the blinkers on in the Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown, replacing the white winkers.

CHIVALRY will begin his autumn campaign at Sandown

Racing at Doomben tommorrow...

Doomben tempo vital for Soros

HORSE RACING

TRAINER Kelly Schweida says impeccably bred gelding Soros needs a genuine early speed to return to return to the winners’ list at Doomben on Saturday.

Soros will be having his fourth start for the Eagle Farm trainer in the Jim Beam Handicap (1600m).

The gelding has failed to run a place in his previous three

Monaco playboy out to end losings sequence

HORSE RACING

TWO-year-old Monaco Playboy is set to end the worst losing run trainer Trevor Miller has ever suffered at Doomben on Saturday.

Monaco Playboy gave Miller his fifth second during January when he flashed home to be runner-up to boom filly Tibrogargan Miss over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on Australia Day.

The gelding was tightened at the start and was pushed back in the field but made up six lengths on the winner in the final 300m.

“I don’t have a big team these days but I can’t remember ever having such a drought for winners,” said Miller, who has trained more than 800 winners alone at his home base Caloundra.

Miller is hopeful Monaco Playboy can end his run of outs in the Coca Cola Amatil Handicap (1200m).

“The two-year-olds in Brisbane are getting up to 1200 metres and that will suit a lot who have been disadvantaged at 1000 metres,” he said.

“I have no doubt the extra distance from the Sunshine Coast will suit him.”

He said Monaco Playboy had the ability to be closer in the run in Saturday’s race.

“In all his jump-outs and trials he has shown us he can muster early speed so I would expect him to be closer on Saturday,” Miller said.

runs and can be tardy at the start. However, Schweida is sure the biggest problem facing Soros has been lack of pace in his past two races.

“You saw what he could do when fresh in a Listed sprint race (The Keith Noud Quality) off a decent pace when he charged home for a close fifth,” Schweida said.

“But at his last two starts he has been hampered by the lack of genuine early pace in

longer races. “They walked early at his last start in the Sunshine Coast Cup and he had no hope the way it was run.” He said there appeared to be some early pace in Saturday’s race with Kiss Me Deadly and Lord Pyrus both go-forward horses.

“Let’s hope there is some pace on Saturday and I reckon I’m not the only one hoping for it,” Schweida said.

Schweida said he would let

Soros tell him if he was ready to step up to a middle-distance campaign.

Since his 2012 Queensland Derby preparation under leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody, Soros has won four races in Sydney and Melbourne without living up to his early promise.

But Soros has breeding on his side to keep making an impact in Brisbane racing.

He is by champion sire

Lonhro out of Bonanova who won the Group One Emirates Stakes.

That makes him a halfbrother to the black-type winners Prima Nova and Bonaichi.

Schweida’s top sprinter Better Than Ready was retired to stand at Lyndhurst Stud during the week but the trainer is hopeful he has some young horses on the up to take his place.

Tony Gollan travelling at record pace

HORSE RACING

THE southern autumn carnivals will take a back seat for Tony Gollan as he edges towards breaking a longstanding Brisbane training record.

The benchmark for most winners by a trainer in a Brisbane racing term is 78 set by the late Bruce McLachlan in 1987-88.

At the halfway mark of the current season, Gollan is on 41 winners, four ahead of arch rival Robert Heathcote.

Gollan says he has made a

The bottom line

conscious decision to concentrate on metropolitan races this season although he is not specifically chasing down McLachlan’s mark.

I don’t worry about records. If you train winners everything else looks after itself,” Gollan said. “But I have been told when Bruce set that record he had a super winter carnival with more than 20 winners.” Gollan hasn’t decided whether he will have any autumn carnival runners this year but says his main focus will be on the big races in Brisbane. “I definitely won’t

be going to Melbourne because it is too soon,” he said.

“Thousand Guineas runnerup Traveston Girl might go to Sydney or she might stay here and have a freshen-up for the winter. “I am keen to get my other good filly Pienkna winning which means she will probably start her campaign here and then we would look at a possible Sydney trip.”

Gollan said veteran galloper Temple Of Boom was back in work but was also likely to be kept for the winter.

“I brought him back now because I don’t like leaving

geldings in the paddock for too long and he has been doing some three-quarter pace work,” he said. It doesn’t worry me if he doesn’t start for another 16 weeks, he is that type of horse.” Gollan trained a double at Doomben last week and looks to have a strong hand again on Saturday with three-year-olds Max It Out and Rocklord in the Canadian Club Hcp (1350m). “I have an opinion of both of them and I am hoping to get them both out to 1600metres at their next starts,” Gollan said.

In the northern hemisphere, all racehorses celebrate their birthdays on January 1.

THE last win for Soros came at Moonee Valley early last-year.

TONY Gollan’s Spirit Of Boom is one of the leading hopes in today’s Doomben 10,000

TRAINER Trevor Miller

Racing at Rosehill tommorrow....

Messara puts G1 faith in Scissor Kick

HORSE RACING

FOR a man who has the job of turning royally bred colt Scissor Kick into a Group One winner, trainer Paul Messara is decidedly relaxed.

Juggling dual roles as the horse’s trainer and the manager at Arrowfield Stud, Messara could be forgiven for feeling a little extra pressure to convert the horse’s potential into big-race results.

But such is his faith in

Lady out to prove her classic credentials

HORSE RACING

A FILLY sold at a loss as a yearling will chase a $250,000 payday in Saturday’s Inglis Classic at Rosehill.

Lady Jivago was bought for $20,000 as a weanling but attracted just $14,000 when she was put back through the sales ring a year later.

She has already recouped that price with a debut win at Wyong. And as part of the first crop of leading firstseason sire Beneteau, her residual value as a broodmare has increased as well.

A $9 chance for Saturday’s Inglis Classic at Rosehill, Lady Jivago’s Wyong win was franked when runnerup Badraan finished second to Golden Slipper hopeful Always Allison at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Lady Jivago appears to have scope for improvement after being tardy to begin and racing greenly then proving superior in a rough-house finish. “Even though they were bumping she held her own to the line which was quite good considering there was a bit of interference,” trainer Jeff Englebrecht said. “She’s always been one of those pushbutton horses (in trackwork). When you ask her to click up a few gears away she goes.

“She hasn’t hit full speed yet but this will give her a chance to show us what she’s got.”

Englebrecht agrees favourites Serenade and Odyssey Moon are the horses to beat as both have posted city wins. He also knows racing can throw up a few surprises.

Scissor Kick, Messara says patience is the only ingredient he needs. “I’ve had some good horses before and he’s as good as any I’ve had,” Messara said.

“When you get a good horse like this, if they can stay sound and healthy, I really think it’s only a matter of time (until he wins a Group One race).” Some would argue Scissor Kick should be a Group One winner already.

The horse was as brave as

he was luckless in the Golden Rose last spring, defying a wide run to hit the front in the straight, only to be cut down in the final bounds by Hallowed Crown.

Messara is confident Scissor Kick has returned in a similar mood this preparation and will use Saturday’s Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill as the launch pad for an autumn campaign targeted at an elusive Group One win.

Sharing early favouritism

for Saturday’s Group Three sprint, Scissor Kick has had a barrier trial and a jump-out to prepare for his return.

A couple of his rivals will have a fitness edge but Messara is expecting Scissor Kick to counter that with class.

“I expect him to go into this, certainly not peaking, but trying to have him ready to peak in a month’s time for the Group One, the Randwick Guineas. That’s the goal,” Messara said. “But he’s cer-

tainly fit enough and well enough to run very well and capable of winning the race.” One of the horse’s with the benefit of match practice is the enigmatic Bold Circle.

A Randwick winner two starts ago, the David Paynetrained colt is back in Sydney after finishing midfield in the Magic Millions Guineas.

Payne said the horse had returned in great order and his troublesome legs were the best they had been.

The Englebrecht-trained Newton’s Rings came within a nose of toppling multiple Group One winner Eremein in the 2006 Chelmsford Stakes and having experienced that emotional roller coaster, the trainer is keeping expectations for Lady Jivago in check - for now. “It’s probably one of the bigger money races I’ve raced a horse in since,” Englebrecht said.

“(Owner) Doctor (Crosson) is very nervous and he keeps saying to me, `are you excited yet?’ and I just say, `ah no, I’ll just keep a level head and what happens, happens’.

Catkins odds on to add to first- up record

HORSE RACING

CHRIS Waller finds it impossible to fault Catkins for her return in the Breeders Classic but it’s still not enough for the trainer to say she will win the race for a second time.

“I never expect them to win because it just sets you up for a fall,” Waller said.

“But we picked this race out a long time ago and if she’s come back as good as she was last year she will be very hard to beat.”

On that score Waller in-

bottom line

sists the popular grey mare will have no excuses at Rosehill on Saturday as she tries to improve her firstup record to six wins from seven attempts.

“She’s had a perfect preparation, two trials, her work’s been good leading into it,” Waller said.

In contrast to a 2014 autumn campaign that also netted wins in the Wiggle Stakes and Emancipation Stakes as well as a Group One placing in the Coolmore Classic, Catkins managed to post just a lone spring vic-

tory. “I didn’t know what to make of her spring form. It was hard to fault her but she was clearly a length below her best form,” Waller said.

Bookmakers seem more certain of Catkins’ prospects than her trainer because she has been odds-on throughout most of the early betting on the Breeders Classic, a Group Two event. She is well treated under the handicapping conditions of the race with 57kg and her prowess from the barriers almost ensures there are

few concerns about a deep draw. “This race will tell us if she has come up as well as last year,” Waller said.

“We’ll set her for the Queen of the Turf (Stakes). Stretching her out to the mile will be tough but if you are picking up Group Two races along the way you shouldn’t be too disappointed.”

Waller has Arinosa resuming against Catkins but the favourite’s main opposition is tipped to come from the last-start Randwick winner Mihiri.

Speaking of funny names, the odd position that jockeys lift themselves into while racing is called the Monkey Crouch.

BLUEBLOOD colt Scissor Kick

Women’s life insurance plan signed

A MICRO insurance policy for customers of Women’s Micro Bank Limited (WMBL), underwritten by Life Insurance Corporation (PNG) Limited (LICL) was launched on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at ToRobert Haus, Bank of Papua New Guinea. The Deputy Governor of BPNG Benny Popoitai, who is also the Chairman of Micro Expansion Project (MEP), was guest of honour.

This event is significant because it marked the beginning of a partnership between PNG’s premier life insurer, LICL, and the only Women’s Micro Bank in the Pacific which happens to be the 4th Women’s Bank in the world and the 5th Micro Bank in PNG.

Life Insurance Corporation (PNG) Limited (LICL) has been in existence for more than eleven (11) years. It is one of only four licensed insurers (licensed and regulated by the Bank of Papua New Guinea) in PNG. LICL’s major shareholder is the PNG Teachers Association Welfare Fund, which also holds the major shares in National Teachers Insurance Limited, a general insurer regulated by the Office of Insurance Commissioner.

Women’s Micro Bank Limited (WMBL) obtained its license in May 2014 after going through a thorough stringent appraisal process. In issuing a banking license to WMBL, the Bank of Papua New Guinea was expressing a vote of confidence in the role of women in

nation-building. And the Meri Laip Insurans Plan was one of the innovative products being supported by BPNG & MEP that would entice women to join the Micro Bank.

At the Official Launching of Meri Laip Insurans Plan, the General Manager of LICL Raka Taviri Snr

and the CEO of WMBL Thushari Hewapathirana, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which set down the terms and conditions of the partnership and the insurance policy. The signing was witnessed by the Deputy Governor of BPNG Benny Popoitai and

Banking out of 12 branches nationwide

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand Banking Group Limited first opened a branch in the capital Port Moresby in 1910 and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (PNG) Limited (“ANZ Papua New Guinea”) was established in 1976, following the granting of self-government to Papua New Guinea. There are 12 branches located throughout the country, several of which are in the National Capital District - further branches are scheduled to open throughout 2009.

ANZ’s branches in Papua New Guinea operate in a commercial banking environment and offer a full range of retail and business accounts, deposit and loan facilities, leasing, international trade finance and treasury services, Kina currency credit cards, EFTPOS facilities and local debit cards

Today, at ANZ, when it comes to success, having access to the right fi nancial solutions can make

all the difference. So, whether it’s day-to-day banking, fi nance, foreign exchange or investing, we can help you reach your goals.

the Team Leader of MEP Saliya Ranasinghe. Representatives of LICL, WMBL and the media were also present.

The signing of the MoA also signifies the bank’s commitment to provide affordable micro insurance products and services through

reputable insurance providers like LICL.

The Meri Laip Insurans Plan (MLIP) has two significant featureswhich are:

MLIP provides protection (for WMBL and the borrower) by insuring the loan in case the borrower defaults through death, in which case the remaining loan balance is paid off by LICL;

Under MLIP, LICL will aslo pay out a Hauskrai/Funeral Benefit of K5,000 (if insured member is age 18 to 60) or K2,500 (if insured member is over 60 years old) to nominated beneficiaries.

This partnership intends to help the GoPNG through the Bank of PNG, through its initiatives like the Microfi nance Expansion Project (MEP), the Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI), achieve the unenviable goal of reaching out to the 86 percent of PNG’s population who are said to be unbanked or under-banked. In particular, the Governor of BPNG would like to see 1 million new bank accounts opened by December 2015. Now with the introduction of Meri Laip Insurans Plan, an affordable, innovative and essential micro insurance product, WMBL will be able to contribute to this goal by attracting the masses.

FROM left, CEO of Women’s MicroBank Thushari Hewapathirana,

Deputy Governor BPNG Benny Popoitai and General Manager of Life Insurance Corporation Raka Taviri signing the MoU.

TV channel announces promo winners

NO DOUBT many newcomers to the world of Digicel Play had their fi ngers crossed earlier this week, hoping to win the ‘New Customer’ draw; walking away with a brand new 32 inch Samsung Smart TV!

Entry couldn’t have been easier. All customers had to do to enter the draw was purchase a new Digicel Play Box before January 31. Winners were chosen at random and Walagato Albert from Port Moresby and Amanda Jere-

wai from Lae were the two lucky customers.

When Digicel made contact with Mrs Albert, she was shocked but thrilled by her windfall. “I myself have never won a free gift in my life,” she

PUBLIC NOTICE

05 TOEA COIN STILL LEGAL TENDER IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The public and business houses are reminded again that the 05 toea coin is still a legal tender in Papua New Guinea. As such, it has a monetary value and should be used for purchases of goods and services.

The Bank of Papua New Guinea has sufficient stocks of the 05 toea coins that are available for commercial banks to acquire and provide to the public and business houses.

The public should not accept lollies or other products in place of 05 toea as change from retails shops. It is the consumer’s right to demand 05 toea as change and not any other product, unless you consent to it.

said. “This TV is a blessing.”

Mrs Albert purchased her Digicel Play Box from the Digicel retail store at Vision City after much convincing from her son, Alan. He had seen the Digicel Play channel line-up at a neighbour’s home and convinced his mum to buy one for Christmas.

“He didn’t want anything else - just a Digicel Play Box,” Mrs Albert said.

“He’s been sitting in front of it ever since - from dusk till dawn, watching Nickelodeon.”

Jack Bourke, Head of Marketing for Digicel Play, presented the Albert family with their new TV.

“This is a special day for the Alberts - and for Digicel Play,” he said.

“It’s the fi rst of many great promotions we intend running throughout the year - so watch this space! “And -

of course - keep watching the Digicel Play platform!”

The winner from Lae, Amanda Jerewai, was also taken aback by her win. When presented with her new TV by rugby union great, Brendan Cannon - who is also the General Manager of Digicel, Momase Region - she said, “I was happy and surprised when the guys from Digicel Play called, and very excited to have won this prize.”

The fl at screen TVs received by our two lucky winners have already enhanced their viewing experience - especially with programs on TVWAN and TVWAN SPORTS HD broadcasting in High Defi nition. Suffice to say, Digicel Play -- The Best TV in PNG — just got even better for the Albert and Jerewai families!

Bank opens ATM facility in Vanimo

WESTPAC customers in the idyllic town of Vanimo in Sandaun Province can now conduct their banking with greater ease thanks to the installation of a new Westpac Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) outside a local branch.

The new ATM facility is located outside the new Vanimo Supermarket. The supermarket also contains a Westpac branch, allowing customers to apply for personal loans or cards and conduct a range of banking transactions.

Vanimo is the capital of Sandaun Province and is located on a peninsula close to the border with Indonesia. According to Westpac PNG’s Head of Retail Banking, Adam Downie, the ATM is a bonus for residential customers as well as visiting customers passing through the busy town.

“Customers can now conveniently

withdraw cash at the ATM and shop at their ease in the supermarket or cross the road to buy goods at the Vanimo market,” Mr Downie said.

“Westpac is proud to be expanding the convenient banking services we provide in Vanimo. We have the second largest ATM fleet in the country and our Vanimo ATM is just one in a number we have rolled out in regional PNG recently, with more to come.

ATMs complement our very successful Mobile Banking platform, Instores and branch network to bring convenience and flexibility to our customers, wherever they are.”

Westpac operates in seven Pacific countries, the Cook Islands, Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu through its network of more than 50 branches and more than 100 ATMs, its online services and thousands of merchants.

Loi M. Bakani Governor

HAPPY winner of the Samsung Smart TV, Walagato Albert, fourth from left, with her family and Head of Marketing for Digicel Play Jack Bourke, second left, receives her prize.

THE Westpac (PNG) Head Office located in Port Moresby.

Yabru woman makes ‘super choice’

YABRU Village in the Green River LLG of the Sandaun Province is where Mrs Belinda Kowopiai hails from. She is an employee of Christian Books Melanesia (CBM) as a supervisor in the stationary shop. A role she has played for almost 4 years.

Belinda is an existing contributor to another authorised super fund however Belinda understands the importance of spreading investments and the power of not putting all your investments in one basket so she made a decision to join Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) as well through the newly introduced Choice Super Product.

Belinda fi rst knew about NSL’s Choice Super in September 2014 when NSL Vanimo staff did a presentation to the staff of Christian Books Melanesia.

The very next day she signed up and opened her Choice Super account and has since then consistently maintained her savings. Belinda has put in the extra commitment by arranging with her employer for direct salary deduction to her Choice Super account.

Apart from her fortnightly salary Belinda has other income earning ventures that she can rely on to continuously maintain her savings, even after she ceases employment. These include participating in the informal market on her free times as well as securing a grass cutting contract with several clients within the township of Vanimo.

Belinda also understands the power of compound interest Choice Super can attract and has set a target of continuous savings towards achieving her dream to own her very own vehicle.

Belinda says she has no regrets joining Nambawan Super as she believes her savings will continue to grow with no hidden fees or deduction as compared to other fi nancial institutions that she has tried in the past.

“I am encouraging others to join Nambawan Super and open a Choice Super account as this is a more secured environment at which your funds are managed well and I believe the returns will

be so much rewarding” She continues to say “I know I have made the right choice with Nambawan Super in opening my very own Choice Super account.”

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 Belinda who are serious about savings 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 i) Housing Advance Scheme – After five years of being a Choice Super member you will be eligible to get a 100% 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. ii)

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

BELINDA showing her Choice Super deposit book.

Starting up a small business

STARTING up a business and becoming self employed is a dream that many of us want to turn into a reality. So how difficult can it be?

Well first you need a good business idea, and then you need to have a clear understanding as to how to take the first step towards starting the business and following the process through to get the business established and successful.

That is where many people begin to struggle. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. There are plenty of

places to go where you can seek independent advice and get the financial backing you require to get your business off the ground.

You will find some useful articles on this website with links to recommended resources, but the main bulk of this site is given to help people find a business idea that suits their interests.

It’s important to realise that starting and running your own business shouldn’t be all about making money, though that may be your

primary goal.

It should also be about what type of work would suit you, the type of goals and aspirations you may have, and ideally what you are passionate about.

These things will make it easier for you to succeed and sustain long term growth of your business.

It’s also important to balance this with an understanding as to whether your business concept will fulfil a demand and meet your customer’s needs.

Testing the market, formulating a business plan, obtaining financial backing, making the right contacts are all part of setting up a business, and it’s by no means always simple and straightforward.

But with a good business idea and suitable research, along with dogged determination to see it through, setting up your own business can be an uplifting as well as financially rewarding experience. Local, national or international

Sometimes a business idea can

start out on a small scale and expand into a much larger enterprise. Once a business starts making a healthy profit the business owner can also re-invest those profits and diversify into other areas with new ideas.

It depends how much of an entrepreneur you are and what your end goals might be.

www.500ways.co.uk

Assisting with asset finance needs of PNG businesses

FIRST Investment Finance Ltd has assisted with the asset fi nance needs of PNG businesses for many years. There are two main types of leasing which companies can utilise.

Novated Leases - employees

A novated lease, where the vehicle and some of its running costs can be wrapped up into the lease.

Benefits for the employee: potential for income tax savings potential access to volume discounts if the employer has many vehicles under this scheme more flexibility in the choice of a car compared to a company car arrangement vehicle stays with the employee and can be transferred to a new employer if you change jobs

Benefits for the employer: a way to provide an effective increase in employees’ salaries with potentially minimal cost to the business potentially a cost effective alternative to operating a fleet of company vehicles compared to company cars, the business does not assume any risk for the vehicles compared to company cars, employee vehicles are “off balance sheet”

Company Lease - employers

Benefits to your company:

Financing under a FIFL Lease can deliver operational benefits to your business:

Tax benefits - the lease may be deductible

You get to use the vehicle immediately for the fi nance lease period

Fixed monthly repayments

Fixed interest rates throughout the term of the loan

When the Finance Lease expires, choose the best option for you:

Upgrade your vehicle

Make an offer with FIFL and obtain ownership of the vehicle

FIRE THREATENS TOWN

Hundreds of firefighters in Western Australia are battling to stop an out-of-control bushfire reaching a town. An emergency alert is in place for Northcliffe in the south-west of the state and most residents have been evacuated. Another huge bushfire is raging further north at Boddington, 120km (74 miles) south-east of Perth. Western Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the fire threatening Northcliffe was “the biggest in decades” in the state.

Water rights up for talks

THE Government has agreed to discuss a potential deal with Maori on water rights and ownership, but the prime minister has ruled out a national settlement.

Prime Minister John Key said the Government was prepared to hold discussion where Iwi had “legitimate rights and interests” to water catchments.

“In the Supreme Court we said in our statement...we think there are legitimate rights and interests.

“We think there might be quite a gap between what some groups think those rights and interests are,” he said.

In February last year, the Supreme Court dismissed a bid by the Maori Council to order a review into how the Government reached its conclusion that Maori had no ownership claims to the water and steam used by four state-owned energy companies to generate electricity.

The four - Mighty River Power, Solid Energy, Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy - eventually made up most of the Government’s asset sell-off.

Key said today the Government would not block the Maori Council from taking part in the discussions, but their views were out of step with the Government and other Iwi.

“We’re not trying to block the Maori Council. I mean, it’s not like we won’t talk to them or have any engagement with them. We’re not trying to come to that in a heavy-handed way, but I can’t tell you whether they’re likely to be included in the make-up of the group.”

Key dismissed concerns the Gov-

Wife killed person she loved most

A WOMAN who killed her husband and attempted to murder her daughter-in-law has been sentenced to more than five years in a hospital facility.

Guanzhi Yu was found not to be insane when she attacked her daughter-in-law, Jin Hua Xu, and husband, Shubai Gao, with a kitchen knife last year. Instead she was found guilty on manslaughter and attempted murder.

In the High Court at Nelson Judge Stephen Kos made the order to sentence Yu to five years and five months on each charge to be served concurrently.

“On any view what has happened here is deeply tragic,” he said.

Yu had killed the person she loved most in the world and also destroyed her family, he said.

During the two-week trial the court heard Yu, Gao, their son, Wei Gao, and daughter in law all lived together in a house on St Ann Place in Nelson.

Yu did not like her daughter-in-law and over several months her mental state declined.

On March 3 last year Yu attacked her in their home. Yu’s husband tried to wrestle the knife off her but was stabbed in the chest. He died in Nel-

At a glance

POLICY: Nobody owns the waterThe RIGHT TO USE: But everyone has the right to use the water but no one owns the marine life that is subject to the currents and tides and move from one spot to another.

ernment would only be dealing with a Government-related group of Maori representatives.

“I think there is very widespread engagement, it’s just that the Maori Council is a very different makeup and has a slightly different agenda to some of the other iwi leaders.”

The Crown would not be negotiating a national settlement. Instead, any claims to water would likely be dealt with on a catchment basis.

“In a practical sense, there are some catchments where iwi have land. That land hasn’t historically had access to water for irrigation because [historically], say, they may not have had the capital or the capacity to access that water.

“So, on a first-come-first-serve basis, they’re locked out of that water resource,” Key said.

“The question is, for the economic development of that land, should they be able to access some water?”

Environment Minister Nick Smith said the work built on the process led by the Land and Water Forum.

“We have committed to a work programme on engaging with the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

son hospital.

Kos said Yu’s behaviour leading up to, during and after the attack constituted a mental disorder but fell short of the threshold for an insanity defence.

Each of the charges carried a starting point of eight years but were brought down because Yu did not have any prior convictions, she was remorseful of the killing of her husband and she had a mental disorder. She was detained to serve her sentence at a “suitable hospital” as a “special patient”. -STUFF news

Picture: BBC

GUANZHI Yu

Severe heat wave on the way

WESTERN Australia, NSW and Victoria are set to sizzle during a severe heatwave that is likely to linger for at least a week.

Intense heat into the midto-high 40s is building across northern WA.

The heat will spread across virtually all of WA and across southern Australia from Friday.

The Bureau of Meteorology says that by Sunday, severe heatwave conditions will be established across WA, the southern half of NSW and most of Victoria, with maximum temperatures across both eastern states to remain about the 40C mark until at least Thursday next week.

BOM spokesman Tony Leggett said a slow-moving high pressure system over the Great Australian Bight would produce hot, dry winds across the continent.

Freed journo praises all

AL Jazeera journalist Peter Greste has spoken to the media in Brisbane after arriving home in Australia early this morning, thanking all of his supporters who championed for his release.

Arriving to cheers from fellow members of the media, Greste got all smiles as he walked into the building.

He paid tribute to his “incredible” family and praised their “dignity, passion and resolve”.

He also thanked Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and

her team, the ambassador in Egypt, and the Latvian government, who helped broker his release.

He then publicly recognised his colleagues, CanadianEgyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohamed, who remain in prison, for the support they gave him.

Greste was emotional when he said: “We’ll see them out.”

He arrived at Brisbane Airport overnight following his 400-day prison ordeal

in Egypt. He held a private reunion with his family about 1:00am before walking out into the arrivals hall with his hands raised to the cheers of supporters.

Greste said he was aware there was a large movement of support for him but was not aware of its full scale. He said he expected “maybe a dozen cameras” at the airport when he arrived home.

“Clearly I got that wrong,” he said.

“To be honoured like that is frankly overwhelming.

I’m deeply, deeply honoured by it but also very, very humbled by it and absolutely awed by the amount of support and expressions of goodwill that we’re getting.”

-ABC news

He said it felt strange to be on the other side of the microphone and that the journalistic community had shown him a “sense of purpose [and] a sense of unity which has blown me away”. Speaking of his time in an Egyptian prison, he said it felt like a “near-death

experience”, but also like a “rebirth”.

He said the experience was a “baptism of fire” that helped him learn more about himself.

“Most of us are probably far more capable of coping with difficult situations than we really appreciate,” he said.

“Most of us are never put in that position. I was lucky enough to be tested but in a way that wasn’t threatening ... I was given an opportunity to look back at my life.”

“Frontal systems which are often cool changes in southern Australia are being pushed south by the high, so they will have little effect for the next week.

The northern monsoon has also weakened, Mr Leggett said, and is not expected to return until the middle of next week at least, allowing northern WA to heat dramatically.

“If you don’t have that monsoon cloud and rain, you don’t have that cooling effect,” Mr Leggett said.

Marble Bar, in the Pilbara, will not see a day below 43C in the next week, hitting 47C on Monday and Tuesday and 48C on Wednesday.

Gascoyne Junction in WA has a similar forecast, with a top of 48C by Tuesday and Wednesday. -AAP

Frontbencher evades queries about replacing Abbott

LIBERAL frontbencher

Malcolm Turnbull has sidestepped questions about whether he would like to be prime minister, in his first public comments since backbenchers began calling for Tony Abbott to be replaced.

The Prime Minister is under intense and sustained pressure, as some Coalition MPs publicly call for change and look to those regarded as possible contenders - former leader Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

This afternoon, Cabinet minister Andrew Robb called for backbenchers to stick with Mr Abbott but declared the leader’s “position relies on his performance”.

It builds on statements made yesterday by senior Liberal figure Senator Arthur Sinodinos, that his support for Mr Abbott was “not unconditional”, and which cast doubt on whether he would be prime minister next week - after Tuesday’s crucial party room meeting.

Mr Turnbull travelled by train to the NSW central coast seat of Dobell to inspect the rollout of broadband and to attend a “politics in the pub” event this evening. When asked what he believed would happen when MPs gathered, Mr Turnbull said “we’ll see, you’ll just have to wait and see”.

“There is a lot of forensic commentary and discussion about it,” he added.

“But the fact is that we have a very strong government, very competent government.

“We’re a very united team.”

And on whether he would like to be Australia’s next prime minister, Mr Turnbull refused to answer but said he was happy being communications minister.

“I’m just going to focus on broadband,” he said.

“We have a very good prime minister in Tony Abbott.”

Mr Turnbull also did not want to address the issue of whether the public debate about the leadership was damaging the Government.

“I don’t want to be unhelpful and I’m flattered by your curiosity in our affairs. But I think we’ll just focus on broadband today,” he said.

“I don’t want to go on and on about this. There’s lots of other commentators to talk about it.”

Trade Minister Andrew Robb said he had “no doubt” Mr Abbott was the best option to turn around the Government’s prospects and called on disaffected MPs to give the Prime Minister more time. -ABC news

PETER Greste, centre, smiles at his father during a press conference with his family in Brisbane. Picture: ABC

MALCOLM Turnbull

Busfire threatens Aust town

HUNDREDS of firefighters in Western Australia are battling to stop an out-of-control bushfire reaching a town.

An emergency alert is in place for Northcliffe in the south-west of the state and most residents have been evacuated.

Another huge bushfire is raging further north at Boddington, 120km (74 miles) south-east of Perth.

Wind and dry weather have helped the flames to spread

Quick news

FIJIANS OFF TO NZ

FIJI and New Zealand have formally launched Fiji’s participation in the recognised seasonal employer scheme, Radio New Zealand reports. Under the scheme Pacific Islanders are brought to New Zealand on limited visas to work in the horticultural and agricultural sectors. Fiji had been excluded from the seasonal worker scheme because the country was under military rule until the elections in September last year. Now an initial group of 30 workers has been selected with the first expected in New Zealand before the end of this month.

CROOK FREED

WEST Papua province police say an officer jailed for 15 years last year for money laundering is out of jail and resisting arrest. The West Papua police chief, Brigadier-General Paulus Waterpauw, told the Jakarta Globe that Labora Sitorus is claiming he was lawfully released from prison in March 2014 for health reasons and is not required to return. The police chief says he has not been arrested due to the protection of his relatives, and he does not want to cause a clash. Sitorus was found guilty of laundering US$132 million (K352m) and was sentenced to 15 years in jail and a $400,000 (K1.06m), on appeal to the Supreme Court.

MOST FAIL MATHS

PARENTS of mathematics students in Samoa are threatening legal action over poor maths examination results. Results for Year 13 show 70 per cent of students failed in the Samoa Secondary Leaving Certificate national maths exam, RNZI reports. The ministry of education CEO Matafeo Tanielu Aiafi, has rejected a call by parents for the marks to be changed. He says the marking system did away with scaling last year and reintroduced the old marking system to allow teachers to find and fix students weaknesses including in the area of maths.

LAW NOT HELPING

A WOMEN’S group in Tonga says 80 per cent of domestic violence victims are going back into a violent environment. The Women and Children Crisis Centre has assisted more than 1800 women and children since 2009. The centre director, ‘Ofa Likiliki, says most of the people they helped have ended up going back to where they first experienced violence. She says the situation is not helped by the land laws which restrict women from owning land, RNZI reports.

CHINA PAPER TIES

THE editor of Vanuatu’s new weekly newspaper, Vila Times, says it aims to give more information about China to the people of Vanuatu. The paper is being produced in both English and Chinese and Nancy Zhang says she hopes it will be a bridge between the two countries. “We want to give more information to Vanuatu people – what the whole world is like and (to help) develop the economy with more investors coming in to Vanuatu,” Ms Zhang told RNZI.

BUSH FIRE THREAT

FIVE families were forced to evacuate their homes at the weekend after a large bush fire on Saipan in the Northern Marianas. The fire swept through four to six hectares of vegetation on a mountain in Kannat Tabla last Sunday evening, RNZI reports. Several fire and emergency vehicles were dispatched but rough terrain prevented them from reaching the fire which eventually died out around midnight. The residents have been allowed to return to their homes.

TONGA DENGUE SPREADS

AUTHORITIES in Tonga are dealing with a dengue fever outbreak that could have infected hundreds in the kingdom, RNZI reports. The head of the non-communicable diseases unit, Dr ‘Ofa Tukia, says the ministries of health, internal affairs and works are combining in their efforts to rid villages of potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes which carry the disease. Dr Tukia says 46 cases were reported in 2014 and an outbreak was declared when 33 cases were discovered in the fi rst month of this year.

and satellite images show palls of smoke over the region.

Western Australia’s Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said the fire threatening Northcliffe was “the biggest in decades” in the state.

“Even if we get lucky with the weather, this is a fire that is going to take days and days - if not weeks - to finally extinguish and get under control,” he said, quoted by the West Australian.

The bushfire has a perimeter of 220km (137 miles) and has been burning for six days. Reports said some properties on the edge of the town had already been lost to the flames.

It is feared that if the fire eventually engulfs Northcliffe it will then threaten the larger town of Pemberton. Resources are being stretched by the fire near Boddington, which has reportedly jumped containment lines and is

putting homes under threat. Patients at Boddington hospital have been relocated and smoke and ash is said to be falling on the nearby town of Collie.

The blaze is believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike last Saturday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has offered government support to help tackle the fires and the army has been called in to put up temporary accommodation for firefighters. -BBC

EXTRA firefighters are being brought in to try to tackle the bushfires. Picture: BBC

Markham District Supplment

New Journey for people in Markham:

By FRANCO NEBAS

IT s start of a new journey for people of Markham district where the district will transform to a more focused economic.

Markham MP and National Housing Minister Paul Isikiel said this during the official launching of Prime Minister Peter O’Neil’s National Cocoa Development Rollout Program in Mutzing station last Friday.

“I believe this program will transform my district to a more focused economic, participating and self reliant community in supporting their own domestic needs and social obligations such as church activities through their tithing and offerings and others too like funeral expenses more paramount to lift their living standard, “ Mr Isikiel said.

He said the underlying factor here today is “Fighting Poverty” that is the number one enemy.

“I want to challenge my fellow MPs and leaders of Morobe to follow suit in this commodity drive with cocoa, coffee and oil palm being the vehicle to give economic empowerment and self reliance and sustenance to our people and eradicate poverty rooted lifestyle, and further help them realizing their socio economic potentials in micro agro business and cottage industries.

“Today Markham and coastal districts and local level governments of Morobe must take cocoa crop and make it a member of our family, “It is call a tree of life” he said.

Mr Isikiel said that was the main reason why PM O’Neil and his government is taking courage in driving the cocoa agenda to every coastal families and communities of Papua New Guinea.

“ Markham district wants to be in the flow and so that is why we are here today to witness this significant launching of PM O’Neil national cocoa development rollout program in Markham district, “ said Isikiel.

Cocoa first introduce by Lutheran Missionaries

By FRANCO NEBAS

COCOA in Morobe province was first introduced by first Lutheran Missionaries back in early 60’s that saw huge cocoa coconut plantations in Finschhafen, Singawa and Malahang and other few small holder projects.

With the age of cocoa in Morobe, one would ask why cocoa did not root itself strongly and widely and economically in Morobe family network or society groups.

Why cocoa is not a member of our family in Morobe, what has curtailed the growth and development of cocoa in Morobe to date?

These fundamental questions I believe should now open the minds of our Morobe leaders to take back what we witness here today and develop a way forward for our coastal districts of Morobe to become active in cocoa production. I say this because Morobe has the land mass and labour potential.

Minister Isikiel also highlighted to Prime Minister Peter O’Neil that in hope of rolling out cocoa and other commodity in Markham district there need to be a good road network.

He presented a documentation of major road that marketable commodities such as cocoa and coffee must reach their market place in Umi Agriculture Township or Lae.

“Also Mr Prime Minister, I am developing a township at Umi and it is the Agricultural trade centre Markham, Morobe and Papua New Guinea, and my district is the food bowl of PNG.

“Therefore I am also asking your intervention to approve and allocate K40 million to my district to develop this township as the Agricultural hub and trade centre of this region and that will also attract agricultural investors to come into Markham, and establish in this town develop our agricultural projects and achieve the dream of making Markham the true food bowl of PNG,” said Mr Isikiel.

Markham District Supplment

Micro-finance will assist farmers

By FRANCO NEBAS

THE micro –finance will assist farmers access financial assistance to help them operate their Micro Agro Business.

National Housing Minister and Markham MP Paul Isikiel said this during the launch of the Markham district Micro Finance Roll Out program last Friday at Mutzing station.

Mr Isikiel said the program will assist farmers to buy their own equipments in terms of cocoa fermentry and coffee pulping machines.

He said the farmers will also have access to acquire tools and operating assets in enhancing their own Agro Business activities.

“The Micro Finance will assist farmer’s access financial assistance from K1, 000 to K20, 000 to help them operate their micro Agro business.

“The micro financial assistance is purely commercial and a banks loan criterion is fully applied here without any influence from my political office,” said Isikiel.

Mr Isikiel said with the success of this initial financial facility, the district will continue to roll out the next lots of funding to increase the collateral level.

“And perhaps new threshold would be indicated, however very much depends on our ability to utilized this current facility and make it a success both for the bank and us customers or borrowers, he added.

Mr Isikiel also told the people that each household or family in the valley from OngaWaffa across Umi-Atzera and Leron will be allocated with 625 cocoa seedlings each that equivalent to one hectare of cocoa farm to cultivate for their domestic and household needs.

He told the people that this initiative is fully supported by Prime Minister Peter O’Neil and his government to as much as possible by putting money back to the pocket of its people and empower them.

Therefore the commodity boards such as cocoa boards and others should be fully resourced to drive the government agenda forward in providing economic empowerment to our people through such program nationwide and of course with micro finance facilities for our small farmers.” said Isikiel.

Umi to be PNG’s first agri-growth Centre

BY FRANKIY KAPIN

With the biggest land mass of 334 square kilometers of land area in Papua New Guinea, Morobe province has the manpower and land access to generate a wealth of commodities in the agriculture sector. Instead the access land masses have been left abandoned or ceased from reproducing for many years.

And with Lae recognized as the country’s industrial hub there is the need to create growth centers including the recently announce Umi growth Centre as the Agricultural growth Centre of Morobe and PNG.

The Umi growth Centre in located in the Markham district of Morobe province.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru as made the call for Umi to be the first agriculture growth center for PNG receiving the nod from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. In agreeing to the concept, O’Neill said as resourceful Papua New Guineans we have to work hard and work the land.

He made the commitment to fund the water and sanitation projects for the Umi growth Centre through the national government.

Naru highlighted that Morobe is gearing to revive as well participate in government funded projects in the province.

He told O’Neill there are already 21 registered ILGsland groups destined to harness the oil palm in the province.

Naru said other agriculture based industries such as the famous Markham peanut is to be revived as well cattle farming in the Huon Gulf district. He said but again the government must reopen closed abattoirs which have also received the nod from Agriculture Minister Tommy Tomscol to start as early as next year.

And with the notion of Morobe being highly populated as well receiving the bigger share of the national government’s annual budget allocation Naru appealed to the PM to addressed the provinces PIP projects that have been shelved.

Naru strongly called on the PM to make the Trans -highway becomes a reality despite heavy criticisms from the leaders in the southern part of the country. The notable construction of the Kumalu by-pass in

Bulolo has also been put forward to PM O’Neill to fast-track through the department of works and the contractor as well speeding up of the Lae- Nadzab four lane.

PNG

Skills on show in Milne Bay

TOURISTS on board cruise ships departing the pristine and calm waters of Alotau’s harbour will carry away souvenirs that sport Egwalau designs by local artisans.

Egwalau (pronounced Egwathau) in the Wedau language of North Coast of Milne Bay means welcome, thank you and/or farewell.

Egwalau Tours and Events Milne Bay is a new tours and events company that has come into the province’s tourism scene early last year. The company began operations in February 2014, led by two enterprising and experienced Milne Bay women Maxine Nadile and Elaine Bate.

The company’s vision is to provide a memorable and lasting tourism experience for their clients through sustainable community participation.

It has embarked on upskilling local Milne Bay craftsmen and women through product development workshops to produce quality products for the cruise ship tourists.

In a recent workshop conducted on January 22-24 at Education Milne Bay, 20 craftsmen and women were taught various skills to produce simple high quality crafts. They were taught skills on printing and sewing techniques.

The printing techniques on fabric like wood block printing, spray painting, vinyl cutting and tie dying were taught by Benjamin Dickson. Cutting patterns and sewing techniques were taught by Elsie Roroipe. Both facilitators are young Milne Bay artists engaged by Egwalau to teach their fellow Milne Bayans.

Mr Dickson is a self-taught artist engaged as a self-employed artist in many contemporary art forms like arts and crafts, dance and music.

Miss Roroipe has an interesting background and has been utilised to pass on her extensive skills as a fashion designer and artist. She

studied for a masters degree in fashion design at Donghua University in Shanghai, China, in 2007-2012.

Ms Nadile explained: “The challenge is on the volume and variety of products that the craftsmen and women can produce over the duration of the cruise ship calendar into the province this year.”

She added that through her experience, cruise ship tourism destinations in other Pacific nations had lucrative arts and crafts cottage industry that is sustained at a high quality.

The cruise ship industry has just begun in PNG with the gateway into the country through Milne Bay, so her concern for Milne Bay is obvious.

“We must further explore new techniques for quality and variety to be competitive with the other Pacific nations.”

She said each cruise ship carries approximately 2000 passengers and is looking for souvenirs which are unique and authentic in Milne Bay and PNG. “Every one loves Milne Bay designs, however the challenge is access to materials like fabric and paints.”

Mrs Bate added that Milne Bay craftsmen in the past experienced tourists that came in small numbers and infrequently. However, with the emergence of cruise tourism, large numbers of tourists were coming in frequently.

“The Milne Bay craftsmen and women must provide high quality and quantity products for our visitors at a sustainable level,’’ she said.

She said the workshop also enabled the craftsmen and women to be multi-skilled in various other products. “The carvers are taught also to use their carving skills to carve wood blocks for wood block prints which their craftswomen can sew the fabric to many items.”

BENJAMIN Dickson (left) showing some of the participants a vinyl cutting technique.

Cruise ship to return again for empowerment

CONTINUE FROM PAGE 76

MOST of the wood carvers are from the Trobriand Islands and the issue of fumigation of wood carvings, before tourists can buy them, is an issue that will affect their livelihood.

There is also a concern that the constant harvesting of Rosewood would eventually deplete the wood species.

The products taught at the recent workshop are carry bags, shirts and laplaps bought at the local shops.

Among the designed goodies will be style bags to carry your sunglasses, books, mobile phones or other accessories.

It is estimated that this year there will be more than 11 cruise ships from the P&O Carnival Cruises and other cruise ship companies visiting the shores of Milne Bay.

The workshop in product development recently is envisaged to challenge the local craftsmen and women to change their attitude and produce high quality and quan-

tity souvenirs. The participants are self-employed craftsmen and women, wood carvers and sewers.

The Alotau Urban Youth participants found the training interesting and challenging. The Alotaubased Trobriand Islanders found that the wood block printing as an alternative to their wood carving was something they will be willing to further develop.The women found the sewing training to be exciting as they learnt to sew new items such as bags and shirts for the first time.

The challenge for them would be to meet the enormous demand from the arrival of the cruise ships this year.

The first P&O Cruise ship, Pacific Pearl, is expected on February 15. Meanwhile, the tour and events company’s vision to empower the community with art and craft skills will be boosted with the recruitment of two Australian volunteers.

They are from Scope Global to teach skills like product development and tour guiding to Milne Bay artists.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR VALENTINE’S DAY

WHEN: Saturday 14 February WHERE: Grand Brasserie TIME: 6pm till 10pm PRICE: K175 per person

ELAINE Bate displaying a dyed and vinyl printed fabric ready to be sewn

Elsie Roroipe (left) in an outfit she designed while her colleagues show off some of the products that they will produce like hand bags and men’s shirts.

Spoil someone special with a three course meal and romantic night you’ll never forget! Delicious canapes and champagne will set the mood in our Executive Lounge.

Vaccun advert sparks row

INDONESIA has formally complained to Malaysia over an advert for a robot vacuum cleaner which told consumers to “Fire your Indonesian maid now”.

Indonesia said the advert was “very disturbing to the feeling of the people and nation”.

The treatment of hundreds of thousands of Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia has been a repeated source of tension between the two countries.

The row comes as President Joko Widodo is due to begin a visit to Malaysia.

The original advert for RoboVac - showing a white man relaxing in a chair with the vacuum cleaner nearbyhas been taken down online, but had been widely shared on social media, generating complaints from Indonesians.

Indonesian Ambassador Herman Prayitno called on Malaysia to ban the advert altogether, and said Indonesia was considering legal action against the company. There have been several reports of abuse of Indonesian domestic staff in Malaysia, prompting Indonesia to ban

its citizens from taking such jobs altogether in June 2009.

The ban was revoked after the countries reached a deal to improve working conditions, including one guaranteed day off each week and stopping employers from holding employees passports.

The issue is expected to come up in talks between President Widodo - known as Jokowi - and Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday.

It is Mr Widodo’s first official visit to Malaysia since taking office last year.

-BBC news

Bali Nine pair lose final bid

CONDEMNED Bali Nine pair Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan have lost their final legal recourse before execution.

The Denpasar District Court has announced it will not allow a second judicial review into the Australians’ case.

Lawyers for Chan and Sukumaran had asked for their sentences to be commuted to 20 years in prison given their reformation during 10 years at Bali’s Kerobokan prison.

The men could be now be days away from facing the firing squad after Attorney-General HM Prasetyo announced on Monday they would be among the second group of felons to be executed in Indonesia this year.

Court spokesman Hasoloan Sianturi said after considering all aspects of the judicial review application, known as a PK, the decision was made not to accept it.

The application would not be sent to the Supreme Court, he said.

Mr Sianturi said the law stated that a judicial review could only be submitted once. He also said the application did not formally fulfil the conditions of a judicial review because there was no new evidence.

Chan and Sukumaran, the so-called ringleaders of the Bali Nine, were sentenced to death over their role in the foiled attempt to export 8.2 kilograms of heroin from Indonesia to Australia in 2005.

Mr Prasetyo said on Wednesday he was considering whether the eight drug felons on death row, including the Australians, could be executed in the same location.

“We are now looking for the right place,” he said at a press conference. “We are considering if all of them could be in the same place. If not, we will have to find another field.”

Mr Prasetyo declined to name a date for the executions but said the penal island of Nusakambangan would be his preferred location.

“Based on regulations execution should not be made in a public space and Nusakambangan is not a public space.”

The executioners were still in training, he said. Sukumaran and Chan will be put to death by 12 members of a firing squad. Of those 12, only three will have live ammunition, so no-one will know who fired the fatal shot. -STUFF news

INDONESIANS are employed as domestic helpers in countries across South East Asia.

Picture: BBC

ANDREW Chan and Myuran Sukumaran

Police raid abortion clinics

POLICE in Thailand have launched a crackdown on abortion clinics amid a boom in the underground trade. This week police, raided a Bangkok home suspected of facilitating and undertaking the procedure.

During the police sting at a home in northern Bangkok, an undercover policewoman successfully exposed a backyard abortion clinic.

“I was asked first ‘how many months pregnant are

you’?” the policewoman said, “and I said ‘I am three months pregnant’ “.

“They told me to take and insert these tablets and then the blood will come, they said ‘I should do it at home’.”

The tablets cost 6,000 baht or about $A240.

Thai police said they were not abortion pills but something far more dangerous. They said abortions also occurred at the site.

“We know it has been done

Fears Vietnam buried live cats

VIETNAMESE authorities have buried thousands of cats smuggled into the country from China to feed the illegal cat meat trade but some groups fear many were alive at the time.

A truck containing three tons of live cats crammed into bamboo crates was impounded last Tuesday in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, with police initially undecided on how to deal with the animals.

On Wednesday, a police officer told news agency AFP they were buried in accordance with Vietnamese law on smuggled goods.

“The cats were from China, with no official origin papers and no quarantine,” a policeman from the Dong Da district environmental police said, who opted to remain anonymous.

“Several of them had died, there was a terrible smell that could affect the environment and [there were] risks of future diseases.

“Therefore, we culled them by burying them.”

The police officer declined to confirm how many were alive at the time of burial.

Animal protection groups, who pleaded for the cats to be spared, feared many of the creatures were alive when they were buried.

Other smuggled animals, including chickens, were routinely disposed of in a similar way.

The Asian Canine Protection Alliance, a regional coalition of animal rights groups, said it had heard “inhumane stories as to how the [cats] may have been destroyed”.

“Our request for any visual evidence of their fate has been denied,” the group said in a statement.

“[We] call for the practice of inhumane killing of trafficked animals to be stopped.”

Photographs of the cats crammed into dozens of bamboo crates stacked on top of one another prompted widespread calls for the felines’ lives to be spared.

One petition on change.org urging Vietnamese authorities “to change their animal handling policies” garnered more than 23,000 signatures from across the world.

Cat meat, known locally as “little tiger”, is a delicacy in Vietnam, and although officially banned, it is widely available in specialist restaurants.

Vietnam has long banned its consumption in an effort to encourage cat ownership and keep the country’s rat population under control.

But there are still dozens of restaurants serving cat in Hanoi and it is rare to see cats roaming the streets - most pet-owners keep them indoors or tied up fearing they could be stolen.

-ABC news

here without proper medical conditions, just a matt on the floor and insert the pills.

“It’s dangerous, some wom-

en have died,” head of the operation, deputy inspector Verapol Sagnurt, said.

Inspector Verapol said it had been his duty to uncover Bangkok’s hidden clinics.

“Thailand is a Buddhist country,” he said.

“To do abortion is dangerous for the women and it is also a sin. The most important thing is it’s a sin.”

Abortion is allowed in Thailand if the woman has been raped or her life is at risk if

the pregnancy goes ahead.

In all other cases termination is against the law, meaning many women are still resorting to old-style backyard abortions.

Illegal abortions are punishable by up to five years in jail.

But underground, there is a booming trade.

It has been estimated up to 400,000 illegal abortions are undertaken every year and more than 1,000 women die

in the process.

In the surrogacy case of Baby Gammy, for instance, the ABC obtained documents showing one Thai doctor was willing to perform a late-term abortion at seven months for about $800.

In 2010, more than 2,000 foetuses from illegal abortion clinics were found hidden in a Buddhist temple in Bangkok.

-ABC news

THOUSANDS of live cats destined “for consumption” were seized in Hanoi after being smuggled from China. Picture: ABC/AFP

I was shown how to take abortion procedures at home

UNDERCOVER POLICEWOMAN Bangkok

China bans ‘vulgar’ web pseudonyms

CHINA’S internet watchdog has banned web users from posting messages under the names of famous people.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it was combating the “vulgar culture” of using names like Barack Obama, or those of Chinese officials.

The CAC is a Communist Party organ overseen by President Xi Jinping, so its rules will carry more force than those of other regulators.

Similar restrictions by other bodies have been sidestepped by web firms.

The CAC announced a series of measures that would be in force from 1 March.

It said nicknames should not include information that could violate the constitution, subvert state power, undermine national security or promote rumourmongering.

In addition, web users must sign a pledge to avoid

“illegal and unhealthy” internet activity, and register accounts under their real names even if they want to post under nicknames.

CAC’s head of mobile internet, Xu Feng, promised that the new regulations would not limit users’ freedom.

“This does not restrict internet users, instead it protects their legitimate rights,” he said.

Real-name registration has been a goal of the Chinese authorities for years.

The State Internet Information Office (SIIO), an organ of the State Council, passed similar rules in 2012.

The office announced last month that it would step up its efforts to enforce users of microblogs, smartphone chat apps to register with real names.

But campaigners have decried the regulations as a crackdown on free speech, and the SIIO has been largely unable to enforce the measures. -BBC news

China’s soaring cancer rates

THE number of cancer cases in China is rising “ferociously”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns.

According to the United Nations agency, around 2.2 million men and women across China die from cancer each year.

Lung cancer is now the most common cancer diagnosed in Chinese men, and the leading cause among cancer deaths in the country.

In a statement released on

World Cancer Day, the WHO said many of the deaths could be prevented.

“The growth of cancer in China is ferocious,” WHO China representative Dr Bernhard Schwartlander said.

“Improving cancer prevention in China – for example, by reducing very high smoking rates especially among Chinese men – would save many millions of lives every year.

“The single best thing you

Japan considers paid holidays

JAPAN’S parliament is considering enforcing five compulsory paid holidays for workers per year, in a bid to lessen the toll on mental and physical health in a country famed for overworking.

Workers typically used less than half of their leave allowance in a year, according to a survey by the labour ministry which found that in 2013 employees took only nine of their 18.5 days average entitlement.

A separate poll showed that one in every six workers took no paid holidays at all in 2013, Jiji Press said.

can do for your health is to stop smoking right now.”

Smoking is still allowed in many enclosed public spaces, despite attempts by the Chinese government to impose a nationwide ban.

The WHO said air pollution was also a contributing risk factor for cancer, particularly in urban areas. For Chinese women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and “one of the deadliest”.

-ABC news

The government wants to boost the amount of paid leave used to 70 per cent by 2020, and plans to submit legislation mandating holidays in the current parliament session, Jiji said.

In early discussions, employer groups proposed limiting the number of compulsory paid holidays to three days, while unions called for eight.

Japan’s culture of long working hours and unpaid overtime is regularly criticised as a leading cause of mental and physical illness among employees.

-ABC news

CHINA’S cancer patient at a hospital in Xiaoxin, Yunnan province.

Picture: ABC

Silk Road site’s creator found guilty

THE man accused of operating Silk Road, a deep web marketplace where illegal drugs were sold, has been found guilty.

Ross Ulbricht, 30, was convicted by a Manhattan jury on all seven counts including narcotics and money laundering conspiracies.

Prosecutors said more than a million drug deals took place on Silk Road, earning Ulbricht about $18m in Bitcoins

His defence lawyers had argued he was framed for much of the site’s activity and had quit the site.

The jury deliberated less than day before handing down the verdict, which leaves Ulbricht facing a possible life sentence.

US Attorney Preet Bharara said the conviction sent a clear message: “The supposed anonymity of the dark web is not a protective shield from arrest and prosecution.”

Defence lawyer Joshua Dratel argued in closing statements that Ulbricht had started Silk Road but quit soon after creating it.

The trial had heard that Ulbricht was the “perfect fall guy” for the true owners of the website.

But Assistant US Attorney Serrin Turner argued Ulbricht was willing to do anything to protect Silk Road.

Teen on trial for mum’s death

CHICAGO: A pregnant 19-yearold woman on trial in Indonesia for the death of her mother says she is innocent and “petrified” about her future.

Heather Mack told the Chicago Tribune in a series of interviews Tuesday that she loved her mother and had no reason to kill her.

The remains of her mother, 62year-old Sheila von Wiese-Mack, were found in a suitcase outside a resort in Bali where she and her daughter were staying in August.

Also on trial is Mack’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Tommy Schaefer, who police say arrived in Bali shortly before the death. If convicted, Schaefer and Mack could face death by firing squad.

Mack, who is due to give birth on April 1, said her fear was “more for my daughter than me”.

Mack said she contacted the Tribune by phone because her lawyer in Indonesia isn’t being paid out of a $US1.56 million ($A2 million) trust fund left behind by her mother.

In Chicago, Judge Neil Cohen

At a glance

THUMPS UP: This was a swift and damning verdict, and represents a significant victory for federal prosecutors after a meticulously planned sting.

WARNING: T Officials say the outcome sends a clear message to others. But with millions of dollars amassed by Ulbricht in just two years, the online underworld was and remains a lucrative arena.

Emails showed a man willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on contracted killings to remove threats from the operation, the lawyer said.

Ulbricht was arrested in October 2013 and had pleaded not guilty to seven charges of narcotics trafficking, criminal enterprise, computer hacking and money laundering.

When the verdict was announced, his father dropped his head in his hands and his mother left the courtroom complaining that the defence had been barred from producing evidence that would help her son.

-BBC news

Venevuela seeks talks with US

VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro has called for a relationship with the United States based on diplomacy and an end to what he claims is a US plan to destabilise his government.

Mr Maduro was speaking to supporters in Caracas before meeting the Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (Unas-

ur), Ernesto Samper. He later asked Mr Samper to mediate between Venezuela and the US.

The US imposed sanctions against Venezuelan officials in December.

They were aimed at those allegedly involved in suppressing the anti-government protests that shook Venezuela in the first six months of 2014.

ruled in January that $US150,000 from the fund should go to Mack’s lawyer but couldn’t be used for the boyfriend’s defence.

The Indonesian lawyer has received one $US50,000 payment, Mack said, but two more installments haven’t been paid.

Cohen had said those payments shouldn’t be made until the lawyer provides a billing statement explaining his services.

Prosecutors say Mack and Schaefer plotted to kill Mack’s mother because she didn’t endorse their relationship, and that Mack once proposed that Schaefer hire a hit man for $US50,000. When asked by the Tribune about the hit-man allegation, Mack said she “can’t answer that”.

“I maintain that I am innocent of all charges against me related to the death of my mother,” Mack said. “I believe my lawyer, who has worked relentlessly on my behalf, will prove this in court.”

Trial proceedings continued Wednesday.

-AAP news

N S I NORMAN SIKE INSTITUTE

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

Semester 1 Registration, 2015

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

Certificate Courses: Certificate in Computing Certificate in Business Management

Certificate in Accounting Certificate in Sales & Marketing Certificate in Human Resource Management Certificate in Information Technology Certificate in Mastery Learning in English

Diploma Courses: Diploma in Accounting

Diploma in Business Management

Diploma in Sales & Marketing

Diploma in Human Resource Management

Diploma in Information Technology

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Classes commence: 02nd February, 2015. Location : Pom PIMS NCD Erima : Hagen Downtown (next to Yosie‛s clothing)

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Fireworks explode over Vail Village during the Opening Ceremony of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA. Picture: BBC

FIREWORKS LIGHT UP CITY

Nato to boost Europe defence

NATO is set to announce details of a plan to bolster the alliance’s military presence in Eastern Europe in response to continued fighting in Ukraine.

The bloc’s chief says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry is to hold talks in Kiev as the US considers whether to send weapons to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian rebels.

The US has so far only provided “non-lethal” assistance to Ukraine.

On Wednesday Ashton

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES DEFERRAL OF NEW FEES

Carter, the White House’s choice for defence secretary, said he was “inclined” to start supplying arms.

Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday will seek to reassure the alliance’s member nations in Eastern Europe by boosting its forces there.

A rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days’ notice.

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has said the bloc faces a “fundamental change” to its security environment because of

Russian aggression.

Speaking as ministers arrived in Brussels, he said: “This is something we do as a response to the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea,” he said.

“I very much underline that this is something we do because we have to adapt our forces when we see that the world is changing.”

Nato will also reveal plans for a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. -BBC news

The Registrar of Companies wishes to advise all directors of existing companies and deregistered companies of the new changes on Annual Returns Fees which will be implemented this year. The implementation of the new fees has been deferred to 4TH APRIL 2015. This is to give opportunity to all company directors to ensure that all your outstanding returns are lodged. There will not be a further deferral after the 4th April 2015.

All existing Company directors are advised that the following new fee structures will become effective on the 4th April 2015.

1. ANNUAL RETURNS (a)

UN court rules out Croatia genocide

THE United Nations’ highest court has ruled that neither Croatia nor Serbia committed genocide against each other’s populations during the wars that accompanied the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Both sides said they hoped the ruling would mark a watershed in relations, long since improved but still sometimes frosty.

Peter Tomka, president of the International Court of Justice, said the forces of both countries had committed crimes during the conflict, but that the intent to commit genocide - by “destroying a population in whole or in part” - had not been proven against either country.

(b) Reporting Companies (Including all foreign companies)

2. LATE ANNUAL RETURNS

time prescribed)

All company directors are advised to lodge all your outstanding Annual Returns before the 4th April 2015. The normal late fee of K150.00 will apply until 1st April 2015.

3. REINSTATEMENT OF DEREGISTERED COMPANIES

All directors and shareholders of deregistered Companies are advised that as of 4th April 2015 new fees will apply for reinstatement of defunct companies. The table below provides the old and the new fee structures. Therefore, directors of deregistered companies who wish to reinstate their companies are advised to reinstate their defunct companies before the 4th April 2015. THANK YOU

“This marks the end of one page on the past, and I’m convinced we will start a new page on the future, much brighter and better,” Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic told reporters in the Hague.

Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said she hoped the ruling would contribute to “closing this historic chapter and moving on to a better and safer period for people in this part of Europe.”

The cases were part of the long legal fall-out from the break-up of Yugoslavia into seven states in wars that lasted for much of the 1990s and left more than 130,000 dead in Europe’s worst conflagration since World War Two.

Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, filed its case against Belgrade in 1999 and Serbia - a candidate for EU membership - its counter-case against Zagreb only in 2010.

“Croatia has not established that the only reasonable inference was the intent to destroy in whole or in part the (Croatian) group,” Tomka said of Serbia’s campaign to destroy towns and expel civilians in Slavonia and Dalmatia.

Rejecting Serbia’s counterclaim, he said Croatia had not committed genocide when it sought to drive ethnic Serb rebels from the province of Krajina, and put hundreds of thousands of civilians to flight.

“Acts of ethnic cleansing may be part of a genocidal plan, but only if there is an intention to physically destroy the target group,” Tomka said. The panel of judges rejected Croatia’s claim by fifteen votes to two. Serbia’s counterclaim was rejected unanimously, implying that even Serbia’s delegated judge had ruled against.

The UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which also sits in The Hague, has long since ruled that genocide was committed in Bosnia, where more than 8000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed when the UN ‘safe haven’ of Srebrenica fell to Bosnian Serb forces in 1995.

In an earlier ruling from 2007 in a case brought by Bosnia, the ICJ found that Serbia was not responsible for genocide, but that it had breached the genocide convention by failing to prevent the massacre in Srebrenica. -Stuff news

NATO plans to boost its forces in Eastern Europe follows an offensive by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. Picture: BBC

Jordan vows severe response to IS

JORDAN’S King Abdullah II has promised to fight back hard against Islamic State, saying that the death of a Jordanian pilot at the militants’ hands will not be in vain.

The remarks were made as the king held a crisis meeting with security chiefs.

He cut short a US trip after IS posted a video showing pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive.

Jordan executed two convicts, including failed female suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, in response.

Lt Kasasbeh was seized after crashing during a bombing mission by the US-led coalition over Syria in December.

Jordan had sought to secure Lt Kasasbeh’s release in a swap involving Rishawi, but IS is believed to have killed him a month ago.

The BBC’s Paul Adams in Amman says talk of an exchange appears to have been an IS tactic to string Jordan along and foster doubt among Jordanians over its role in the US-led coalition.

The king was greeted by a crowd of several thousand people at Jordan’s main airport on his return from the US, with many holding up pictures of the monarch and the country’s flag in a show of support.

After a meeting with security chiefs,

AFP news agency quoted him as saying in a statement: “The blood of martyr Moaz al-Kasasbeh will not be in vain and the response of Jordan and its army after what happened to our dear son will be severe.”

Meanwhile government spokesman Mohamed al-Momani said a collaborative effort was needed between members of the US-led coalition to “undermine, degrade and eventually finish [Islamic State]”.

“This evil can and should be defeated,” he said, adding that Jordan was “more determined than ever” to fight the militant group.

The Jordanian military vowed an “earth-shattering” response after IS posted a video online appearing to show the pilot in a cage engulfed in flames.

Rishawi and al-Qaeda operative Ziyad Karboli - both Iraqi nationalswere hanged at 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, just hours after the video emerged.

Rishawi had been on death row for her role in attacks in Jordan’s capital, Amman, which killed 60 people in 2005. Karboli was convicted in 2008 of killing a Jordanian national.

IS militants had sought Rishawi’s release as part of a deal to free captive Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, but later killed him. -BBC news

9/11 plotter accuses Suadi royals

AL-QAEDA plotter Zacarias Moussaoui has claimed members of the Saudi royal family helped fund the 9/11 attacks.

Moussaoui, imprisoned in Colorado for his role in the attacks, gave testimony in October to lawyers for 9/11 victims suing the country.

His statement came to light when it was filed in court this week in response to a Saudi bid to drop the lawsuit.

Saudi Arabia has rejected the accusation from a “deranged criminal” with no credibility.

They have made several attempts for the lawsuit to be dropped.

In a rare interview for an inmate at a high security “supermax” prison, Moussaoui said “extremely famous” Saudi officials, including Prince Turki al-Faisal Al Saud, a former Saudi intelligence chief, were funding al-Qaeda from the late 1990s.

He also claimed to have met a Saudi official in Afghanistan who worked in the US embassy.

The two men were later supposed to travel to Washington to find a location

PUBLIC NOTICE

REPRODUCTION AND IMITATION OF PNG CURRENCY BANKNOTES AND COINS IS ILLEGAL

The Bank of Papua New Guinea wish to inform the public and business houses that it is illegal to use the images of Papua New Guinea currency banknotes and coins on products (like wallets, laplaps etc), and advertisements for commercial purposes.

The Central Banking Act 2000 prohibits the reproduction or imitation of PNG currency banknotes and coins for any purpose without the consent of the Bank of Papua New Guinea. It is an offence and penalty provisions apply.

Authorised by:

Loi M. Bakani Governor

CONNECTING TO MONI DATA WAIGANI DRIVE

We are upgrading our fixed line network to offer Ultra-Broadband services to our fixed line customers.

Maintenance will commence: 8:00am Sat 7th Feb. 2015

Maintenance will be completed: 4:00pm Sun 8th Feb. 2015

Sites Impacted: Monidata Waigani Drive

Areas Impacted: Boroko Motors, Steamships Compound, bmobile, The National (Waigani Drive)

During this maintenance period, Telikom will upgrade its infrastructure to offer;

Ultra-Broadband Service ( nternet Speed of up to 20Mbps) Un-interrupted and uncontended bandwidth

Ultra Broadband is already available in parts of Port Moresby, Lae and Madang. Call Ultra Broadband hotline number 1010 to enquire.

“suitable to launch a stinger [missile] attack” on Air Force One, Moussaoui said.

His claims, made under oath, have not been verified.

Moussaoui was arrested weeks before the 9/11 attacks on immigrations charges and was in prison at the time of the attacks. He had taken flying lessons in Minnesota and had been wired money by an al-Qaeda affiliate.

In court at his sentencing,

747 into the White House. -BBC news

Customers with service issues after the upgrade window can call Telikom PNG’s 24/7 Customer Care on 3456789 for assistance

Moussaoui said he had been part of a grandiose plot to fly a Boeing

KING Abdullah was greeted by supporters as he returned to Jordan after a trip to the US. Picture: BBC

ZACARIAS Moussaoui has been in prison for eight years. Picture: BBC

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 2x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 6 inclusive

Solution to puzzle SL0846

stars

March 20 - April 19

Few things make you happier than coming out the winner in situations where others have been both unkind and unfair. Yet be cautious about your celebrations. The individual in question may have been in the wrong, but they cared a lot about the venture in question. Try to be gentle.

April 20 - May 19

Only a day or so ago you were both worried and upset because changes were forcing you to leave familiar elements of your life behind. Yet the Sun’s powerful alliance with bountiful Jupiter is making up for that. It’s introducing people and activities beyond anything you’d previously imagined possible.

May 21 - June 20

Although it’s true, your ruler Mercury’s retrograde cycle ends on the 11th, don’t imagine that from then on, things will be simple and straightforward. On the contrary, the confusion it’s triggered will continue for some time. Knowing that, continue to regard your plans, even very simple ones, as tentative.

June 21 - July 21

Progress is wonderful, especially if events are taking you in the right direction. But even the most promising of developments has one shortcoming. Inevitably you must leave elements of the past behind. As much as you dread this, soon those new activities will occupy your time, mind and, where it’s relevant, heart.

July 22 - August 22

If you’re feeling restless, it’s no surprise. Over the past weeks the planetary focus has been in a combination of practical matters and close, but complex, relationships. By midmonth, however, both Venus and the energetic Mars will have moved to accent broadening your horizons, which will be a huge relief.

August 23 - September 22

You’ve discussed the plans others are making and have numerous questions and concerns. But they’re confident. This is a changeable period, which means sudden developments could create problems or bring miraculous twists overnight. That being the case, forward planning is pointless. They’re better off plunging in and seeing what happens.

September 23 - October 22

Long ago you learned that decisions others are cornered into making don’t last. Knowing that, you’ve attempted to charm one particular individual into going along with your plans, but made little progress. Be patient. They’re wrestling with problems of their own. Once these are resolved, they’ll be more responsive to you.

October 23 - November 22

In your experience, progress that involves undoing elements of the past will always lead to problems. Previously, that may have been the case. Now, however, existing arrangements are actually delaying progress. The trick is to acknowledge that what was once true may not apply in the here and now.

November 23 - December 22

While your impatience with those who think and respond slowly is understandable, not everybody is a fire sign. However, with Saturn in Sagittarius and both your ruler Jupiter and Uranus also in fire signs, the pace will be swifter, as will those who in the past caused you so much frustration.

December 21 - January 19

Although the frequent minor errors typical of Mercury’s retrograde cycle are undoubtedly reminding you to double check facts, it influences the bigger picture as well. Knowing this, explore the background of intriguing ideas. Still, since you can’t spot everything, ensure your plans are flexible enough to ride out unexpected developments.

January 20 - February 17

On occasion, things need to be done swiftly. Currently, it’s the reverse. In fact, you’ve probably noticed that decisions made in haste often complicate things more than doing nothing. Bear this in mind, and when others demand you commit, tell them gently but firmly that you will, but in your own time.

February 18 - March 19

Initially, you kept certain facts to yourself because you knew they’d upset or, perhaps, cause problems for others. Now it’s the reverse, and the individual in question needs to know what’s what. But you’re unsure when to raise these. Since there’s no best time, the sooner you do it, the better.

Penrith to unleash the next ‘Greg Inglis’

RUGBY LEAGUE

MOVE over Jamal Idris — Penrith are set to unleash an electric centre many are dubbing “the next Greg Inglis”. With Idris sidelined after undergoing back surgery this week, the path has been cleared for Waqa Blake to shine.

The 20-year-old speedster has wasted little time wowing the opposition with his lightning speed, dazzling footwork and brutal fend, all while still learning the game having predominantly played rugby union as a kid.

Even while he was playing the rival code, Blake has always looked up to Inglis, an Origin and Test star he is now being compared to. “Mum

Tahs giant set to join Edinburgh

SUPER RUGBY

HE is yet to play a full season of Super Rugby but giant Waratahs winger Taqele Naiyavaro may already be on his way out of the door for an overseas payday.

Naiyavaro, who was plucked from NSW Cup rugby league last year by Michael Cheika, is understood to be deep in talks with Edinburgh about a move to Scotland at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Sources have indicated to Newscorp that a three-year contract is a “done deal” but while confirming discussions with Edinburgh, Naiyavaro’s manager Tyran Smith said yesterday no agreements had been reached.

Smith said clubs in France and Japan had also expressed interest in signing the 123kg, 195cm Fijian but that remaining in Australia was “definitely” still an option for Naiyavaro, who is off contract at the end of this season.

was telling me one time she was watching (NSW Cup on television) in Perth — I was like ‘wow, that’s a big thing — I can’t believe I am being compared to GI’,” Blake said of being compared to his hero. “It definitely makes me nervous. That’s big to get compared to Greg Inglis.

“Everyone knows GI — I’ve always looked up to GI. Even when I was playing union, it was always Greg Inglis.

“He is big and fast. He’s just got it all. He seems like a quiet humble guy — a good role model.”

While Penrith general manager of football Phil Gould said it was “unfair” to compare the two players, he is confident Blake is destined for the NRL. “Waqa Blake will

be a first grade footballer — I have no doubt — but in good time,” Gould said.

“He’d played very little rugby league when he came to us a couple years ago. He played in our NYC winning team. Last year he pretty much had a full year of NSW Cup which is great development for a player of his type and age.”

Born in Fiji, Blake and his family moved to Sydney when he was nine, which is when he got his first taste of rugby league, but it was short-lived; he then switched to union following a move to Perth at 13.

It wasn’t until 2012 when he decided to play SG ball with the West Coast Pirates that he caught the eye of a Penrith talent scout and moved

to play Holden Cup.

During his first year at the foot of the mountain, Blake played on the wing before shifting into the centres and he has no desire to switch position, even if that means biding his time in the lower grades with the likes of Dean Whare and Jamal Idris ahead of him in the pecking order.

“It’s very tough,” he said of competition for spots.

“Dean Whare is someone I look up to — he is really good on and off the field. Both Jamal and Dean have been helping me with how they prepare, being professional.”

Having fully recovered from an ankle reconstruction in the off-season, which cost him a place in the junior Kangaroos side, Blake said his main

Williams and Folau in showdown

HEAVYWEIGHT

JUST six days after fighting an exhausting eight rounds in a professional heavyweight bout, Sonny Bill Williams will play his first game of rugby in Sydney since 2012 when he lines up against Israel Folau’s Waratahs on Friday night.

Williams is a confirmed starter for the Chiefs versus NSW trial match at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, with The Daily Telegraph told that he will play half of the game against Super Rugby’s defending champions.

It will be a remarkable effort from the cross-sports superstar, who notched the most impressive victory of his seven-fight boxing career last Saturday by outpointing 71-fight veteran Chauncy Welliver. The arduous schedule means Williams will have travelled nearly 7000km in nine days

playing two different sports.

Williams flew to Sydney in preparation for the bout last Wednesday week, fought on Saturday in Homebush, flew to back New Zealand on Sunday, and will return with Chiefs teammates on Thursday to play in the trial between the two favourites for the 2015 premiership.

Williams will face off against Folau for the first time in eight years.

The two former NRL stars last met on the field in 2007, when Folau scored a hat-trick in Melbourne Storm’s 38-6 victory over Williams’ Bulldogs.

The following year, Williams stunned the league world when he walked out on the Bulldogs to join French rugby club Toulon, while Folau continued his league career in Melbourne and Brisbane before his own sensational defection to Aussie Rules in 2011.

goal is to “impress Ivan” and earn a place in the NRL side.

But Gould revealed Blake could have played first grade last year if it was not for a sever bout of tonsillitis.

“He would have debuted last year if he didn’t lose 14 kilos before round one virtually overnight,” Gould explained.

Blake added; “I didn’t eat for a week straight.”

“I went from 95 to 81 in just a week, when I came back to training none of the boys recognised me. I missed the first round and came back in the second but I was still a bit weak.

“I started a heavy eating diet and hitting the gym but it wasn’t the same me so slowly, slowly.”

“His priorities right now are to get on the field, play some consistent rugby and put all his focus into a good year with the Waratahs,” Smith said. Edinburgh, who are coached by former Stormers and Kings coach Alan Solomons, are searching for a replacement for Scotland Test winger Tim Visser, who recently turned down a contract extension and is expected to sign with an English or French club.

Naiyavaro would provide plenty of impact for the underachieving Scottish club but his departure would no doubt leave Cheika unimpressed.

Coaches know a championship season will be swiftly followed by rivals eyeing off their roster - five of the Waratahs side in the 2014 final have so far departed or signed elsewhere for next season - but Naiyavaro was viewed as a long-term project after being plucked from obscurity by Cheika last year.

Naiyavaro was subsequently nominated for “newcomer of the year” awards by RUPA and the NRC.

WAQA Blake makes a break while playing for Blacktown Workers.

SONNY Bill Williams celebrates defeating Chauncy Welliver

Soccer to be 2016 Rio Olympic qualifier

BY JOHN PANGKATANA SOCCER

SOCCER at the Pacific Games will be an Under 23 men’s qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

And the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has taken the task of staging the competition off the hands of the hosts to ensure it is run professionally with all the trimmings of a FIFA run event.

OFC president David Chung yesterday confirmed that the Pacific Games Council executive director Andrew Minogue has already officially endorsed the move.

“This will mean the OFC will run the show as a FIFA sanctioned event,” he said.

Chung clarified as well that all 11 OFC member associations unanimously supported the move, including New Zealand who will be taking part as well.

“The only catch is that New Zealand and Tahiti who use all foreign based players will not feature in the medal presentation,” he said.

He explained that if New Zealand and PNG play in the gold medal play-off and the visitors win, PNG will still claim the gold medal but the winners head to Rio.

He said with the OFC coming onboard, it will

cover for all FIFA registered match officials, referees and the match commissioner.

“These payments will be covered under what we call equalisation costs,” he explained.

Chung said this has brought renewed enthusiasm amongst the countries to attend the Games.

“So you will have first class match officials and the best youth players coming to Port Moresby to give you non-stop action from day one to the closing,” he added.

Chung who is also the PNG Football Association head said that they will only handle the logistics.

He also confirmed that all matches will be played at Bisini, with only the finals to be played at the Sir John Guise Stadium.

Hekari and Besta face off

BY HAIVETA KIVIA SOCCER

BESTA PNG United and Hekari United, two of the form teams of the 2015 Telikom Soccer League, face off in the clash of the round in Lae.

The battles within the battle will be a spectacle that the soccer mad Lae crowd will be lining up to fill the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium tomorrow at 3pm.

While in Port Moresby, staunch followers will witness a double-header hit-out at the Bomana Correctional Services Training College.

Oro will play Admiralty at 12.30pm and then the main game will see Madang Fox test their wares against an experienced FC Pom outfit at 3pm.

But it is in Lae that will see the competition frontrunners size each other up.

It will be a battle of contrast with the Hekari roadshow coming with their host of Fijian, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands international’s taking on the PNGFA development team.

Both sides are filtered with exciting talent and will be a joy to watch.

Hekari strikers Tommy Semmy, Nicholas Muri and flanker Tutizama Tanito enjoyed a good run last week.

This will make for an interesting match-up with Besta defenders Otto Kusunan, Joshua Talau and Lui Kataka who will test Hekari’s resolve for another big win.

Global construction sponsors triathlon test event

TRIATHLON

ONE of Papua New Guinea’s oldest civil engineering companies has donated over K20,000 as the major sponsor for the triathlon test event slated for February 22.

Global Construction has come onboard to support the staging of the XV Pacific Games test event on the proposed course along the Poreporena Freeway and the Port Moresby waterfront in the National Capital District.

The PNG Triathlon Federa-

tion and 2015 Pacific Games Organising Committee officials will be testing the event preparedness, test water safety and control measures, traffic and crowd control procedures as well as medal presentations on the day.

The race will comprise of a 750 metre swim between the PNGDF Naval base and the Waterfront Supermarket, a 20km cycle course between the Police Headquarters and the Fire Station opposite PNG Ports and then a 5km run along Stanley Esplande

and the Hubert Murray Stadium.

Police, security personnel, Games officials and PNG Triathlon technical officials and marshals will all be engaged in this test event.

The Pacific Games triathlon event will for the first time be run as a draft legal race.

The change in the rules by the world governing triathlon body, International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the Pacific Games Council means cyclists will be al-

lowed to ride together in a bunch and be allowed to draft off each other.

In previous Games, all triathlon events were non-draft legal.

PNG triathlon athletes preparing for the Pacific Games will be competing against other expatriate and local triathletes on the day.

Nineteen people have already registered with more expected before race day. For more information call 76097214 or email damien@ upsouthevents.co

PNG champions Hekari in Group C

SOCCER

AS the kick-off in the 2015 edition of the OFC Champions League nears, the Oceania Football Confederation is pleased to confirm the match schedule for the 12 teams set to compete for the coveted title in Fiji during April. Following confirmation from the participating Member Associations, the OFC Competitions depart-

ment has released the official match schedule for Oceania’s premier regional club competition. For the second year running 2014 Champions League runners-up Amicale FC of Vanuatu have found themselves drawn in the same group as Auckland City FC. The Vanuatu side were fortunate to take out that first match up 1-0 but were then narrowly defeated in the Champions League final and

again in the inaugural OFC President’s Cup final several months later. The next encounter between these two regional powerhouses is a highly anticipated one.

They are joined in Group B by the as yet unconfirmed Solomon Islands representative, as well as 2014 Fiji club champions Suva FA.

Group A consists of 2014 OFC Champions League semi-finalists AS Pirae of Tahiti and Ba

FC of Fiji. FC Gaitcha from New Caledonia and OFC Champions League Preliminary victors Lupe Ole Soaga of Samoa round out the group.

In Group C are Vanuatu domestic champions Tafea, New Zealand’s second qualifier Team Wellington, AS Tefana of Tahiti and eight-time National Soccer League champions Hekari United of Papua New Guinea.

HEKARI’S Emmanuel Simon (left) and Kila Polena in training for tomorrow’s NSL match with Besta in Lae. Inset- OFC and PNGFA president David Chung said a majority of the national team will be selected from the Telikom National Soccer League.

PNG triathlon athletes

Puma Engery backs PNG Pukpuks 7s team

RUGBY UNION

PUMA Energy, the globally integrated midstream and downstream energy company announced its backing of the Papua New Guinea Pukpuks Sevens team.

During a presentation yesterday, Puma Energy scored that elusive try with a bounty K500,000 sponsorship to the PNG Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU) yesterday.

On behalf of Puma Energy PNG, acting general manager Hulala Tokome and CEO Piere Eladari presented the dummy cheque to PNGRFU board chairman Richard Sapias. This will support the endeavors of the men’s participating in two IRB World Seven Series circuit tournaments at Wellington and Hong Kong.

The PNG team is playing their pool matches Wellington today. As PNG’s major fuel supplier, Puma Energy are delighted to be supporting the national men’s sevens team, said Tokome.

Tokome said they are pleased to support a winning team who are competitive on the global stage, especially as it is the Pukpuk’s re-entry into the world renowned Hong Kong Sevens after an absence of almost a decade.

Puma Energy recognizes the efforts, the determination and skilled sportsmanship instilled in these players, he said.

“Our financial funding will go a long way in assisting the team, the PNGRFU ‘Get into Rugby Program’ being rolled out as well as the wider 2015 vision for rugby in PNG,” said Tokome.

“We are supportive of important events that portray camaraderie and unity on the field that bring people and businesses together,” he added.

Houra on target in Tatana compo

BY KILA NAO VOLLEYBALL

HOURA are on target to make its fifth grand final appearance in the Under 21 division in the Nick and Bonnie Alan volleyball cup tournament at Tatana village.

The core of the players are more or less related to each other and have being playing together since the tournament started in 2010 under the guidance of coach Opao Udia Jnr.

Udia Jnr said they have developed from strength to strength and gained a lot of experience especially in the finals is something they are always proud of.

Houra played against Kazens, another team from Tatana village yesterday.

Both teams won one set apiece before the match was called off by the match referee due to poor light conditions. Play will resume today with new sets.

Houra’s key players are Arnold and Mahuta Deara, Raho Gia and setter Billy Anton.

For Kazens they also are well equipped with John Willie and Lohia Lohia in the front line and setter Pinsi Harry, Igo Vagi, Gabe Ako and Ako Lusi looking confident of causing an upset.

Both sides play almost similar pattern on the court.

The Open division competition also started yesterday with 32 teams registered in the men’s and 16 in the

Mixed 7s for Lae Hockey

BY FRANKIY KAPIN HOCKEY

A ONE month hockey stint begins tomorrow for the next three weekends to open season 2015 for Lae Hockey.

President of Lae Hockey

Harry Kaisa this week said that the month long competition is sponsored for the first time and acclaiming the naming rights as the Territory Packaging Mix Sevens Hockey.

Kaisa said they have a busy calendar this year as the competition is show-casing their youthful talents.

Kaisa said this is in a bid to push for potential players for the XV Pacific Games in Port Moresby in July.

Kaisa said the aim is to get the clubs revved up and their engines hitting the ground running as of this weekend.

He said the mixed sevens begins the regular season and will be followed by the men’s and women’s seven-a-aside, 11 aside then five- aside to end the year. He added that unfortunately there are no national championships this year due to the Pacific Games, but did indicate that planned tournaments are part of the calendar.

Kaisa welcomed Territory Packaging for coming on board this season with funds for prizes as well equipments for the matches.

women’s category.

Teams from Mekeo and Gabadi and regulars like Kauka, Vabukori Gerehu Hillside, Hanuabada, Vanama (Konedobu), Badiii Vanagi, Tuna Bay (Taurama), Pari, Fisherman’s Island, Gereka and Smugglers (Kira Kira) have registered to participate in this year’s tournament.

The men’s teams have being slotted into six pools due to the increased number of teams from previous years.

Tournament director Dabu Anton said there won’t any matches played tomorrow because of church programs. Competition will resume on Monday with the finals and presentation to be held on Wednesday.

PUMA Energy PNG acting general manager Hulala Tokome, CEO Piere Eladari present the dummy cheque for K500,000 to PNGRFU president Richard Sapias yesterday. Picture by MARK TALIA

NICK and Bonnie Alan meeting the players from both Houra and Kazens. Picture: MARK TALIA.

My story

COMMONWEALTH champion weightlifter Steven Kari feels its time to release some excess baggage.

The winner of the 94kg class at Glasgow Games last year feels his name has been dragged in the mud for too long. The 21 year old who gave the nation some respectability on the world stage said it was all ‘water under the bridge’ until the recent public statements by Oceania weightlifting head Paul Coffa and PNG administrator Sir John Dawanicura.

Kari said he is a proud and passionate Papua New Guinean.

“This was a small issue that blew up into something that has made me and my coach Douglas Mea look like idiots,” he said.

“I did my country proud when I won the gold medal, but when I returned home OWF coach Paul Coffa said I wasn’t Olympic material,” he said.

Kari said at the time they (elite lifters) met with Coffa and Sir John to talk about who is returning to the institute in Noumea.

He said several lifters were told they were returning and were asked whether they would be prepared to tow the line and train under prison conditions.

“By that time I was already feeling uneasy after being told that I wasn’t Olympic material and when he (Coffa) asked me if I was going back, I held back a little,” he said.

Kari said when he fi nally he spoke and said he wanted to stay back just for a week to celebrate his mother’s 50th birthday.

Kari said he didn’t fi nish speaking, as Coffa broke in and said that if wanted to stay back ‘just for a birthday’ he will be taken off the list.

“Then he told Sir John to take me off the list,” he added.

“They took me off the list and didn’t want to deal with me for the next two weeks. I know Coffa is a tough coach but I am happy to be back with my coach Douglas Mea and will train under him for the Pacific Games,” he added.

Kari said he hasn’t been training at the HPU centre because he would rather train under Mea’s directions.

He added that Mea did not entice him to stay back, the decision was his own.

“I am more determined now more than ever before to prove a point…just watch me,” he added.

Kari will be in action tomorrow in the fi rst lead-up event for the Pacific Games.