Post Courier, Monday February 23, 2015

MALABAG DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR MOTUANS

EMOTION-FILLED APPEAL: PAGE 2

MORE CITY ROADS TO COST GOVT K500M

THE Asian sex workers, whose agent reluctantly supplied these pictures yesterday through their agent.

Pictures supplied

BY GORETHY KENNETH

PARLIAMENT’S first serious debate on decriminalising prostitution on Friday was rudely interrupted by a power blackout courtesy of PNG Power’s loadshedding.

The House, without a functioning backup generator, was without power for more than half an hour, forcing Leader of Government Business James Marape to seek adjournment to May 26.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

VILLAGERS

TELL MPS: MEET US HALFWAY

VILLAGERS TELL MPS: MEET US HALFWAY

AMBITIOUS PLANS: PAGE 3PEOPLE

DESPERATE FOR A BRIDGE: PAGE 18

DESPERATE FOR BRIDGE: PAGE 18

Blackout hits sex workers Blackout hits sex workers sex debate

WRONG CAPTION

THE Post-Courier ran two images on Friday’s front page, which were supplied by an Asian woman agent who looks after Asian sex workers after she had come forward to declare that her girls were not undercutting the rate charged by local sex workers.

The caption which read: “Asian prostitutes in a club in Port Moresby” is misleading and we unreservedly apologise to our readers.

It has been established that the two images, without the Post-Courier’s knowledge, were apparently from a Nigerian website taken in 2012. Three of the prostitutes in one of the images however, are currently here in PNG, the agent insists.

The agent, (named) lives in Port Moresby but operates brothels in Bali (Indonesia), Thailand and Fujian in China.

She said yesterday she was “sorry” she supplied the wrong pictures because she wanted to protect her girls’ identities.

The source operates from three different city locations, spread out from Eight-Mile to Waigani, Gordon, TwoMile Hill and Port Moresby.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

Don’t bury debate on sex workers

OURcoverage on the plight of Papua New Guinean sex workers and their concerns at the growth in the arrival of foreign peers has triggered widespread debate within the community. The local sex workers had been in contact with the newspaper for over two months, discussing the challenges that they continue to face and the world that they live in the face of increasing public scrutiny and criticism. The churches were the first to respond to the article with representatives lashing out at the sex workers and describing them as “lazy” in a land of positive economic growth and windfall revenue. Others slammed the Post-Courier for giving coverage to this group of Papua New Guineans, saying there were more important national issues to cover such as the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, in a blatant attempt to sweep the issue under the carpet and to keep it out of public eye.

It was obvious from public reaction on social media that those Papua New Guineans, who chose to downplay the issue, did not get to read the editorial that this newspaper published last week explicitly highlighting the reason behind our decision to publish the story. So here we again highlight it for their benefit. (a) Addressing the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS in PNG (b) tackling the high rates of gender violence and (c) protecting underage children from child trafficking and abuse. On the first point, the National AIDS Council last year picked out female sex workers, males having sex with males and the trans-gender as the vulnerable groups in PNG that needed the attention of authorities. Legalising sex work will enable authorities to regulate working conditions as well as ensure strict hygiene and health protocols are adhered to. The protocols would include regular health checks including tests for sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

While there is no clear link between the decriminalising of prostitution and a drop in cases of sexual violence, debate continues around the world on research showing a correlation between the two. And lastly, the continued criminalising of prostitution also puts at risk the safety of young PNG boys and girls who are part of the profession. A survey on child labour in Port Moresby in 2011 conducted by the International Labour Organisation in partnership with the PNG Government interviewed 175 child sex workers. Most of them were girls and some started the trade as early as 10-years of age.

In last Friday edition Asian sex workers finally broke their silence and assured their Papua New Guinean peers that they catered for a specific market and were not encroaching on the territory of local sex workers. The story, again, kicked up a storm on social media as expected. However, critics capitalised on our erroneous use of pictures (see our retraction and apology on page 1) and were somewhat successful in shifting the debate away from the real issues at stake: that there were Papua New Guinean sex workers wanted authorities to acknowledge their presence and challenges. But as a newspaper we will not shirk away from our responsibilities as a voice for ordinary Papua New Guineans including the marginalised, it is a responsibility we take seriously and will continue to play to the best of our ability.

Index

How to contact us

EDITOR

Alexander Rheeney Ph: 309 1021

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Mt Hagen: Johnny Poiya.

Ph: 542 2602. Fax: 542 3039. Email: posthagen.spp@global. net.pg

Buka: David Lornie

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Fax: 973 9170 Email: postbuka@gmail.com

MP: Relatives deserve justice

THE relatives of three men who were brutally killed allegedly by police in coastal MotuKoitabu villages of Hanuabada and Tatana villages are crying out for justice, Moresby Northwest MP Michael Malabag told Parliament on Friday.

Mr Malabag, who is also Health Minister, said in an emotionally-charged Grievance Debate that it had been 35 days since Sale Naime Tom of Tatana was dragged from his house, put in a police vehicle and driven away alive. His lifeless body was dropped off at the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue some hours later, he added.

“It has been 29 days since Hanuabada’s village market was raided allegedly by police officers who assaulted villagers, mostly women, buying and selling.

“It has been 29 days since Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi were killed allegedly by police officers.

“The blood of these three young men cries out for justice. We as leaders of this great nation must not turn a deaf ear to these cries,” Mr Malabag said.

He called on Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki to tell the families and people of Motu-Koitabu villages whether police officers allegedly

309 1175, 309 1174, 309 1088

www.postcourier.com.pg NEWS

Ph 309 1021 or email editorial@postcourier.com.pg

Wrong caption

FROM PAGE 1

SHE also has one small establishment in Madang.

involved had been identified, suspended from duties and relieved of their firearms pending completion of investigations. “I understand that arrests can take time depending on investigations, but I have been advised that suspensions can be carried out immediately.”

Mr Malabag said 12-days ago a group of Hanuabada village leaders presented a petition signed by 4000 concerned villagers to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. “The deadline for this response is Monday (today) which marks exactly one month to the day Nicholas Rarua and Toka Gaudi were murdered,” he said.

She said that she wanted to protect her girls and had given five different pictures (three the computer couldn’t read).

She said she has sex workers, both men and women, who had valid visas and work permits.

Her competitor, another Asian operator has the same number of workers and a clients’ list which also comprised of a selected few Papua New Guineans and expatriates. “We are here to serve our Asian market.”

Blackout hits sex workers debate

FROM PAGE 1

GRIEVANCE debate was dominated by views on the rights of prostitutes and the expansion of the Asian sex market in PNG, which the Post-Courier had been highlighting during the week.

The Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development Delilah Gore said there was a need for a national forum by stake-

holders to gauge public opinion. Chuave MP Wera Mori had asked for all nightclubs to be banned in Port Moresby to stop the spread of prostitution and all other social issues.

Outside Parliament, the PNG Transnational Crime office said it was aware of the Asian sex market connection, adding that it was a “very complex issue” because it also involved

drugs and human smuggling.

Mr Mori, expressing disgust, was just warming up to the subject of Asian sex workers and of the need to close down Port Moresby nightclubs when PNG Power pulled the plug on electricity and forced debate to the end of May.

Earlier, Minister Gore said prostitution and the sex industry in general were

sensitive issues in a predominantly Christian PNG however, the way forward would be to stage a forum and hear all views.

Such a forum would involve stakeholders which deal with social issues, she added. Ms Gore said planning for the forum for later in the year would start soon and issues of prostitution and sex workers would be high on the agenda.

TAKE a glimpse of the progress of work at the country’s largest sporting facility as we count down to the South Pacific Games. The Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby is expected to host 15,000 spectators at the games

More city roads to cost govt K500m

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE Government will spend K500 million to build more roads in Port Moresby to cater for the increasing number of motor vehicles.

National Capital District

Governor Powes Parkop, said yesterday that the National Capital District Commission and the national Government would build six more flyovers in Port Moresby to ease traffic congestion.

The flyover over the Poreporena Highway and Waigani Drive, is estimated to cost between K60 million and K100 million.

Mr Parkop told the Post-

The bottom line

At a glance

K500 MILLION: The Government will spend K500m to build more roads in Port Moresby city.

FLYOVERS: The Government plans six more fly-overs to ease traffic congestion.

ON AVERAGE: The Port Moresby city road network takes on an average of 500 new vehicles every month.

Courier that the other planned flyovers would be over the Taurama-Wards Road-Hubert Murray junction, Five-Mile (Hubert Murray-Boroko Drive junction), Boroko Drive-Kennedy Road junction and Waigani Drive-Koura Way-Pitpit Street junction.

He said the flyover propos-

al also included the one that would ease the traffic jam at the Four-Mile roundabout.

Mr Parkop said the new roads that had been tendered and are awaiting contractors were the Koura Way to Badihagwa, Taurama to Dogura to Nine-Mile, Nine-Mile to Laloki and Nine-Mile to 17-Mile and

the Independence Drive to Morata to Gerehu Stage 1.

Mr Parkop said the additional roads were being planned to open up Port Moresby and improve traffic flow. He said since the beginning of month, NCDC had advertised for major flyovers on the Poreporena Highway and Waigani Drive.

“For the roads I’ve mentioned earlier, they would cost around K500 million and for the other flyovers at major junctions in the city, we are working on their scope and costs,” he said. The Moresby city road network takes on an average of 500 new vehicles every month, Mr Parkop said.

STORM

THE cyclone that wreak havoc on Australia’s Sunshine state last weekend messed up plans for folks here. The PNG Hunters had to pull the plug on their trial match against Ipswich Jets.

NO CIARA

A ONE-off performance by American songstress Ciara in Port Moresby was also cancelled. The star tweeted her disappointment: “Stuck at the airport due to #CycloneMarcia... Flights into #Cairns and #PapuaNewGuinea are cancelled…”

SHAKING

HOLY Moses! Immigration, police and customs moved decisively to throw out the Nigerian fugitive. It took 15 years to finally get him. Wonder if wanted Indon Djoko Tjandra is shaking?

DEEP SEA

PROPONENTS of deep sea mining will watch with concern developments in NZ. The Kiwi’s Environment Protection Agency refused mining off the coast of Canterbury, saying it could damage the seafloor.

OLD KIAPS

THEY took on policing/ judicial responsibilities and were even weathermen. Kiaps played a big role in PNG’s development hence every time one passes on, with him goes a piece of PNG history.

RIP JOHN

REST in peace John Stuntz. A former kiap in the region of East Papua and Morobe and former plantation owner in the Milne Bay Province. He passed away in the Philippines last Saturday.

KOPEX

REPORTS coming through on the sale of one of Kokopo’s flagship hotels to foreign interests. Loyal customers are worried the gem will lose its family touch and top hospitality, which it is known for.

NO SERVICE IS THE Public Motor Vehicle Owners Association really serious? Do they think they could provide a clean, safe and efficient bus service for the Pacific Games? They hardly have a track record.

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

Port Morebsy is the fastest developing city in the Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand.

THE Pindu Transport is a local company so why we beating up our own folk. It is time we have faith in our local companies but put those like PMV owners under the spotlight for poor services.

SPOTLIGHT

JOHN GUISE STADIUM TAKES SHAPE

Govt endorses villagers petition

BY DONALD WILLIE

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday responded positively to the petition of Hanuabada people.

In a written letter to Motu Koitabu Way forward chairman, Lohia Boe Samuel, the State has endorsed a body to be established to coordinate and manage the implementation of petition demands.

The endorsement follows the demand for the immediate appointment of a body to negotiate with village representatives and subsequently develop a Memorandum of Agreement for implementation by the National Government, NCDC, Police, Motu Koitabu Assembly and village representatives.

The Government has also endorsed that following the outcome of the investigations, the alleged perpetrators be stood down if found guilty and appropriately prosecuted through the criminal court.

Further to the specific request for Police commander to present completed investigation details to the coronial inquest, the Government will express strong emphasis of the need to immediately address the issue of command and control structures within the ranks and files with a strong view to ending continued police brutality in the country as a whole.

The department of the Prime Minister has also agreed to bear all associated costs for the coronial inquest and engagement of a professional lawyer to handle the case for the deceased and the wounded.

It has been noted that the aggrieved, injured and those directly affected by the events can file for civil damages following the outcome of the coronial inquest.

Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc will seek approval from chief magistrate, Nerrie Eliakim, to establish a coronial inquest into the Hanuabada Incident.

The bottom line

North Fly school needs assistance

ST GABRIEL Technical Secondary School in North Fly District of Western Province still managed to start the 2015 school year on time despite facing funding and infrastructure problems.

According to principal Br Gabriel Sivak, the school has been independent in sustaining itself, maintaining existing infrastructure and managing its funds, but desperately needs government help.

Br Gabriel said this year the school has enrolled 650 students which is an increase from last year with 280 students boarding and the majority day students.

However, he said the school is currently facing overcrowding of students in dormitories.

He said the both national and provincial governments have not supported the school much besides a K8 million paid to a contractor to build seven classrooms and other facilities in 2006.

Wingti election petition case set to go on trial

BY PEARSON KOLO

THE ELECTION petition case against Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti by former Governor Tom Olga is set to go on trial.

This was the ruling of the Mt Hagen National Court handed down by Justice Colin Makail who presided over the competency hearing.

The 12-day trial will go on from April 13 to 24, where witnesses will be cross examined.

Judge Makail said the objection to strike out the entire election petition case is upheld in part.

“The objection to strike out allegation one is refused and will proceed to trial,” Justice Makail said.

“Allegations two, three and four are struck out for want of sufficient material facts.”

The allegation that will go on trial on the set date is that

of errors or omissions on the part of first, second and third respondents in setting aside 21 ballot boxes from 21 polling places in the Mt Hagen Open electorate without going through the scrutiny process.

The other three that were

struck out are errors or omissions and illegal practice by third respondent, errors or omissions and illegal practice at Baiyer River LLG and errors or omissions and illegal practices at Keltiga, Hagen Open Electorate.

The petitioner and former Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga who was present at the court house when the decision was handed down told his supporters that their case is finally progressing.

Mr Olga said the election petition case is not a tussle over leadership in the province but is a case that will set precedence so corruption

won’t be practiced by people in future.

Mr Olga thanked his supporters for being patient and asked them to wait patiently for the court process to be completed.

The four respondents on the election petition case are Gordon Wimb, the returning officer for Mt Hagen Open, Joseph Neng, returning officer for Western Highlands Province during the elections and now the provincial administrator, Electoral Commission of PNG as the third respondent and current Governor Paias Wingti as the fourth respondent.

STAFF of the St Gabriel Secondary School in North Fly.

At a glance

ELECTION PETITION CASE: Against sitting Governor Paias Wingti by ousted Governor Tom Olga. RULING: Presided by Justice Colin Makail at Mt Hagen National Court ruled that there is a case which has been set to go on trial. TRIAL DATES: 12 day trial from April 13 to 24, 2015.

It may be hard to believe, but a new study has found that more people smile when they are frustrated.

PNG student gets top uni post

STUDYING overseas has brought a massive and exciting opportunity to Immanuel Sap, a 23-year-old Engan, who is pursuing his university studies in the Philippines.

Immanuel was voted President of the Foreign Students Association of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in Cebu City, Philippines.

He is an upcoming 3rd year student in the June 2015 semester, taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Major in Accounting Management.

Immanuel bested two Africans and a PNG colleague who were also nominated for the position.

An alumnus of St. Paul’s Lutheran Secondary School in Enga, Immanuel travelled overseas and started his university education in the Philippines in 2013 through the education placement services of Paradise International Education Consultancy (PIEC). PIEC is an organisation based in Cebu City which offers assistance to PNG students who wish to pursue their studies in the Philippines.

“I was extremely excited when I was appointed to handle the top position in such an internationallyrecognised university. It became a factor of change in my life as a student. It made me change completely in terms of wrong behaviour and mindset, a clear understanding of broader aspects,” Immanuel expressed.

Being the second PNG student to have been given a chance to lead the said organisation for international stu-

The bottom line

Youth leader returns from UN meeting

A YOUNG leader of The Voice Inc who had attended the United Nations economic and social council youth forum at the UN headquarters in New York to showcase Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050 and its sustainable development model, returned to the country last week.

At a glance

dents, Immanuel said that the title made him a humble and respectful person.

“I value this position with high regards and great admiration as it fulfilled one part of my career objective. It elevated me to a different level where I could be recognised and I am so humbled for it,” he added.

USPF is one of the wellestablished universities in Cebu City known to be international student-friendly with multi-cultural integration.

Today, more than 80 PNG students are enrolled at USPF taking up various courses in Accountancy, Architecture, Arts & Sciences, Business, and Engineering.

Aside from Immanuel, other PNG students who were elected for a position include Joraq Yanis-VicePresident, Russel KobenSecretary, and Rashidah Kalu, Treasurer.

These students competed with other nationalities like Kenyans, Sudanese, Indians, Nigerians, Koreans, Somalians, and Japanese.

PIEC has been fostering student leadership among its students while studying in the Philippines.

PNG creates mobile app

A PAPUA New Guinean who lives in Texas, USA, has created a first of its kind electronic learning software and mobile application called Skool Quiz.

The product was launchedlast week in the United States by the creator, Kisa Nokolu, who is of a mixed Southern Highlands and Western Highlands parentage.

Skool Quiz is a fun and interactive set of English games designed for everyone.

End users will have access to this online system or mobile application to improve their English and learn proper grammar.

According to Mr Nokolu, the content and focus of the system is to address social problems in PNG while providing a fun and interactive avenue for students, adults and everybody to play, have fun and learn.

“We want to educate our young people and students in English literacy and at the same time deliver

useful contents to address social problems to help our young people avoid or prevent social problems,” Mr Nokolu said.

“It’s a free mobile platform but we will need support from Government agencies, business houses and individuals.

“Our long term vision is to integrate maths, history and science quiz into this platform. It’s not about technology but creating a movement that will impact our generation.”

Barbara Thomas was among energetic young people from all over the world who participated at the youth forum in New York to discuss ways in which young people can contribute to manage the shift from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a representative of Papua New Guinea and The Voice Inc, Ms Thomas said the important concepts she took out of this forum was that the young people of each nation have a big role to play in bringing the post 2015 development agenda to the people, and these could be done effectively through partnerships and accountability.

“Young people have a role to play in bringing the post 2015 development agenda to their nations,” she said. “It’s not just something governments, NGOs or corporations do. Everything has to be balanced. It’s all about being responsible in managing our different spheres of development; our environment, our economy and our social aspects, but always being mindful that people should be at the centre of development.

“We must recognise that we share one world and provide the environment and create platforms for people to learn together as equal partners and to be able to pursue and realise their dreams in ways that do not jeopardise the future generations.”

Ms Thomas is writing a summary about the UN ECOSOC youth forum to present to The Voice Inc & the Department of National Planning and Monitoring.

Mobile app revenues from stores worldwide are projected to reach $45.4 billion in 2015 and expected to grow to $76.52 billion in 2017.

KISA J Nokolu, the creator of the Skool Quiz software and mobile application, displaying the application on his mobile phone.

PIEC: Paradise International Education Consultancy is an education placement organisation based in Cebu City, Philippines. Students from around the world under this program take up short courses, pilot training and are placed in universities in the Philippines.

Park set to build PNG’s first play zone

THE Port Moresby Nature Park is set to build Papua New Guineas first nature play and discovery zone aimed at providing a safe and secure recreational space for children of all ages.

Michelle McGeorge, the general manager of Nature Park, said the new facility is scheduled to be fully operational next month.

“The playground is really starting to take shape and is causing a lot of excitement amongst park visitors,” she said.

“The playground will host a series of areas to provide a secure and educational space for children. Playground equipment will include, vine climb, tree tower log climb, dinosaur dig, as well as a tree maze and more.”

Brett Smith, curator of the park said: “Timing of the nature play and discovery zone is great, with World Wildlife Day only a few weekends before. Making February and March all about kids at the nature park” World Wildlife Day will be held on Saturday, February 28, at the Nature Park, to celebrate PNG’s unique wildlife and raise awareness on the need to protect it.

Aussie cop shocked by level of gender violence

PAPUA New Guinea’s rates of domestic violence have been described as “pandemic” by a member of the Australian Federal Police. Speaking to the ABC, Detective Sergeant Michelle Harris – who is attached to the family and sexual violence unit of the Royal PNG Constabulary – said she has been shocked by the level of domestic violence in the country.

“I’d describe the level of violence here as pandemic, equalling something in a war zone,” she said.

Around two-thirds of women face domestic or

Stokes keen to address

women’s issues

GENDER equality and women empowerment has been a key priority in Australia’s engagement with Papua New Guinea.

For this cause, Australia has provided K5.7 million through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program to support Family Health International 360 (FHI360) to reach over 200,000 people, through its komuniti lukautim ol meri project that advocates against gender-based violence.

Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Deborah Stokes, announced that the Australian Government would provide a further K5 million over three years for FHI360 to continue its work and help change lives.

Ms Stokes made this announcement at the launch of the book Powerful Voices and film Harim Mi, featuring women speaking out on violence against women and girls in PNG.

“We have recognised that one of the best ways to achieve stronger communities, societies and economies is to empower women and girls,” Ms Stokes said.

gender-based violence. More than half of the nation’s women experience rape within marriage and 68 per cent are beaten at home. The statistics are more than two decades old and the situation is likely to be worse now.

Some cultures see women

as a possession of their husbands, bought with a brideprice and beaten for any perceived mistake or jealousy.

Ms Harris, who is one of 50 members of the AFP deployed in PNG to offer local police advice, said change would be slow.

“It starts with education, increased support services for women, also the increased access to justice for the survivors,” she said.

One woman said she had chosen to sleep locked up in a police station in Port Moresby to avoid her violent husband.“I feel safe when I stay here, I feel happy to stay

here,” domestic violence victim Lily Joe said. Each night she takes her one-year-old son and heads to the station to share a cell with just one other woman. Ms Joe said: “When he drinks beer with his mates, he comes back home and beats me up using a machete, or anything.” Her husband was arrested and charged with murder and Ms Joe offered to testify against him, thinking he would finally be out of their lives. But he escaped custody during a court hearing and is now on the run. He threatened to kill his

wife and the PNG police agreed to lock her up for her own safety.

“She stays with us here, she’s safe,” one cell boss at the police station said.

During the day Ms Joe sits with her older children behind the new AFP offices.

Convictions for domestic violence are rare, however better policing has meant a 150 per cent increase in the number of cases passing the committal stage and going to trial. For survivors there are safe houses and services available in the capital but many only offer two-week placements. – ABC

Australia will spend up to K122.6 million in PNG, through the Pacific Women Program, to enhance women’s voice in decision making and leadership, increase their economic opportunities, reduce family and sexual violence, and increase access to support services for women and girls so that families can be strengthened.

Produced by FHI360, the book and film contains stories of 49 women from 10 communities in Western Highlands and Sandaun provinces. FHI360, in collaboration with other community based organisations, provided cameras and trained women to use digital photography to document their lives and speak out.

THE Port Moresby Nature Park is set to build Papua New Guinea’s first Nature Play and Discovery Zone aiming to provide a safe and secure recreational space for children of all ages.

The heaviest baby ever born was a boy who weighed 10.3 kilograms. He was born in Italy in 1955.

The bottom line

Continuous rains cause havoc in Mekeo

BY DONALD WILLIE

THE Central disaster team and National Disaster Centre officers deployed in Kairuku district villages of Gagaifua in the Central Mekeo area of Kairuku district in Central Province are now displaced and moving to higher grounds after the village was washed away by flood waters from Angabanga River last month.

The village cemetery was also washed away and human bones and skull were visible when the Provincial disaster team visited the area last Sunday. The elementary school was also washed away.

With continuous rain and flooding in the district, villagers pay a hefty fare of K150-K200 to get on a Toyota Land cruiser from their villages to get to the Trans island highway, Bereina government station turn-off to catch a PMV to sell their betel-nut and produce in Port Moresby.

The road leading

Huon lacks birth facilities

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

PREGANANT mothers in rural villages of Huon district in Morobe Province often go through an unpleasant experience during labour, a Huon district health officer says.

Huon district health coordinator Pendek Sitong said a baseline research that her team and other partners had conducted in 2012 to 2013 exposed some disappointing realities of what pregnant mothers in the area go through.

“Our studies revealed that many of the pregnant mothers in the area often walk for hours or even days to reach the nearest aid-post for their check-ups.

“Women in over a 100 remote villages in the Huon district are delivering their babies in their own houses, near rivers, and even in garden huts that are away from the main village,” Ms Sitong said.

Ms Sitong explained that besides that government’s lack of funding for proper birthing facilities to be erected, the cultural perception that women being unclean when pregnant, has contributed to women giving birth in odd places.

to Aipeana, Veifa’a, Amoamo, Rarai and Gagaifua is inaccessible by PMV’s and the only mode of transport that villagers cannot afford the hefty fares is by walking.

A combined team of disaster officers from both Central provincial administration and the National Disaster Centre (NDC) are currently deployed at Kairuku district of Central Province to assess the villages affected by the flooding caused by rains in the district.

The other affected villages are Oriropetana, Mou, Babiko, Ipaipana, Abiara Oreke, Papangogo, Apanaipi, and up the river villages like Amiaka and Engefa.

According to Central provincial disaster coordinator, Tumai Ipou, the teams are now in the district and will do an assessment report on the extent of damage and lodge it to the Central provincial government and National Disaster Centre for relief supplies.

Doctors condemn unnecessary death

BY DONALD WILLIE

THE National Doctors Association says Papua New Guine must protect its young doctors as much as possible from life-threatening situations.

President Dr James Naipao said this following the killing of a young paediatrician last weekend in Port Moresby.

The doctor was bound for James Cook University, for a post graduate course this year, when he was found dead on the road near church at North Waigani.

Dr Naipao referred to

At a glance

NDA: The National Doctors Association says Papua New Guine must protect its young doctors as much as possible from lifethreatening situations.

PRESIDENT: Dr James Naipao said this following the killing of a young paediatrician last weekend in Port Moresby.

VICTIM: The doctor was bound for James Cook University, for a post graduate course this year, when he was found dead on the road near church at North Waigani.

unnecessary deaths caused by tribal fights, revenge paybacks, domestic violence, sorcery, poverty and jealousy. They would stagnant the

society, economy, personal, spiritual and political development, he added.

The brutal attack on the young doctor had been condemned by many and in the

strongest terms possible by the doctors union which described it as a national loss and to the medical fraternity.

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa shared the sentiments. “This was a very inhumane act by the culprits as the person they had killed is a doctor who saves lives in and gives lives.”

Dr Naipao said it takes 25 years for the National Government to produce a first-class specialist medical doctor.

“The country needs a

lot of doctors to come out of the medical schools. It needs at least 300 graduates every year to serve the rural majority and urban minority adequately,” he said.

“The loss of this doctor is a burden to sick children of this nation.”

Mr Bawa wants the community to come forward with information that would help police arrest suspects.

“This was just senseless, unnecessary killing and I want the public to help the police with information so we put the suspects behind bars as soon as possible.”

Woman seeks help for stoma patients

A WOMAN helping people with a stoma is seeking help to set up a distribution centre as well as a place where people with a stoma can come to get help.

The bottom line

JANET Yaki

A stoma is an unnatural opening in the body, constructed by surgery to divert the flow of waste (faeces and urine) out of the body so the person with a stoma needs a bag to put around the opening to collect the faeces and urine. Janet Yaki has recently received 25 boxes of ostomy supplies from

Ostomy Life Style, a charity in England. The freight was by paid for by Wantok Charity.

The supplies were received by Rotary Club Lae and shipped to Port Moresby for free by Bismark Shipping.

The container is now at CPL storage in Waigani until Mrs Yaki finds a place to store them. Her home is also full with these boxes. The other group sending supplies is Gold Coast Ostomy Association.

A person with a stoma her-

self, Mrs Yaki has for the past three to four years been trying to help these people, saying Papua New Guineans living in rural areas and settlements really need help.

The experience is traumatising so she counsels patients and distributes ostomy supplies. She also registered the Papua New Guinea Stoma Association to help these people. Mrs Yaki says she has 100 people, that she is assisting in Port Moresby but the number for the country is higher

because she also receives calls and helps people from provinces.

The ostomy bags are expensive and are not easily available. A total of 10 bags cost K250.

A person can use six to eight bags a day or even 10. She says there are children being born with defects, but as PNG faces rising lifestyle diseases, the number of people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases as well as cancer are increasing.

It takes a strong person to apologise for their wrong doing but it takes a much stronger person to listen and forgive.

GAGAIFUA villagers holding bones and skull of loved ones after the village cemetery was washed away by the floods.

Sorcery angers youths

FIVE people from ward 2 in Kiunga urban local level government are locked up in Kiunga police cells for alleged sorcery and being involved in the death of two people.

Youth leader Terence Sakunai said the incident happened two weeks ago when a church pastor died followed by a youth a week later.

He said after the first death they questioned a young man believed to be involved in sorcery. It is alleged the suspect was living with the pastor before his death.

When he was questioned about the death he ran away into the bush. Four days later another man died.

This frustrated the youths who searched and caught the man and locked him to a post under a house and questioned him.

However, quick police action saved the man, as the youths had planned to kill him.

PM rejects Vagrancy Act suggestions

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has rejected any attempts to introduce the Vagrancy Law in the country.

“No, I will not adjust section 52 of the Constitution, the last thing any government should do is interfere with the rights of our people, including freedom of movement,” Mr O’Neill told Parliament on Friday.

“I know that it is easy and very tempting to try to introduce acts like Vagrancy Act but we must never forget that these are our people, they need our help.”

Mr O’Neill said the Govern-

ment needs to be innovative in creating programs like public housing, making land available for planned settlements and giving opportunities to the people through programs like free education and skills training for them to have better quality of life.

He told Parliament that the Government will go into a large scale planned settlement program throughout the country to address the illegal settlement issue.

He was responding to questions from MP for Rabaul Allan Marat who said that squatter settlements have contributed to the law and order issues.

“What is your government policy in allowing the continuous existence of illegal squatter settlements?” Mr Marat asked the PM.

“Does the government have any plans to review and amend section 52 of the Constitution, which provides for the right to

freedom of movement and removing illegal squatting?

“Will you give some assurance to the peace loving people of East New Britain Province and PNG that you will revisit the Supreme Court judgment that ruled parts of the Vagrancy Act unconstitutional and make amendment to the Vagrancy Act and enforce immediately?”

Mr O’Neill said many of the people living in illegal squatter settlements are seeking a better living for their families and as the constitution provides, government cannot stop the movement of people throughout the country.

He said government neglect over the years to introduce innovative programs has to be blamed for the increase in illegal squatter settlements.

He said the Government is piloting a program in Port Moresby where land title is put up for settlers to move into a plan settlements where they can have access to a titled land, clean water, power and sewerage which they rightfully deserve.

“Many of the people in illegal settlements are also workers,” the prime minister said.

“They are our citizens and we need to look after them.”

Relatives demand massive K1.7m compo

BY PEARSON KOLO

FAMILIES and relatives of three young men who were killed by a vehicle in Anglimp, Jiwaka Province early this month, are demanding K1.7 million in compensation.

The Rolaka and Walapeka tribes in the Dei district went with the Western Highlands team and police on Wednesday and submitted their demand to the vehi-

cle owner and the Jiwaka Provincial Government, which accepted the petition.

The families and relatives of the three deceased students demanded that the owner of the vehicle and the Jiwaka Provincial Government meet the full demand to allow peace and normalcy in their area.

The three students, Skias Joe, aged 18, a grade 12 student at Anglimp Secondary,

Agra Tika, aged 17, and Junior Anthon, also aged 17, were killed by a speeding vehicle from Jiwaka Province.

Two other students who were also hit by the vehicle are reportedly recovering at the hospital. The vehicle belongs to a man from Ambulua in the Jimi district. Western Highlands provincial peace chairman Thomas Wama and Mt Hagen police who were

present when the demand was presented said compensation payments were the only way to bring peace and ease tension in the Highlands.

Western Highlands community policing officer in charge Inspector David Kongua said the incident had claimed the lives of three young students and the compensation demand must be met to allow peace among the relatives of the

Police are armed and trained to kill. The system defends itself, not the public.

Compensation demand must be met for peace to prevail ...

DAVID KONGUA Jiwaka Province

three young men. The peace committee and the police are working on the case until compensation is paid.

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

AN elderly man had one of his hands chopped off and his wife and two other women were brutally raped while they were waiting to cross the notorious Kumalu River in Bulolo District, on Monday evening.

Bulolo district administrator Tae Guambelek said the victims are from Gurako village just down the WauBulolo Highway from where the incident occurred.

Mr Guambelek said the victims were in their vehicle and were returning from Bayune High School after they had dropped off their children at school.

He said while they were waiting for the river to subside so they could cross, they were approached by six men. He said the criminals held them up and chopped off the man’s hand and brutally raped the women.

He said the senseless attack angered the villages of Zenag, Paraklis, Patep, Gurako and Timini whose men armed themselves, mobilised and were converging on Kumalu village but quick interception by police mobile squad 15 prevented a full scale ethnic clash.

The aggrieved villages with the police and Mr Guambelek are now in a mediation process.

Bulolo tense after rape Killing trends a concern

A COUNCILLOR says most killings in the Miles area outsie Lae are alcohol related.

Aaron Sui, councillor of ward 13 in the Wampar LLG, commonly known as 12 Mile, also said the killers seem to follow the same trend after committing their crimes.

He said the killers would normally kill their victims and later dump their bodies by the roadside, far from the scene of their crime. That way they cannot be tied to the crime, the councillor said.

He said two weeks ago, a West New Britain man married to a Yalu woman was found dead at the roadside without any traces of blood despite a deep laceration on his head.

Last week another man was allegedly killed elsewhere and his body was dumped at the roadside near Munum village. The councillor said this trend is worrying. Police said they are yet to receive reports of the killings.

YOUTHS from ward 2 in Kiunga urban LLG, who are frustrated over allegations of sorcery.

PM to roll out national ID program

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill will launch the national identification program roll-out in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province today.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by National Planning Minister Charles Abel, Governor William Powi and several other Ministers of State.

Mr Abel made this known during Question Time in Parliament last Friday when responding to questions surrounding the legality of the exercise.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru said the nationwide national identification program and the Lae biometric systems conducted in Lae are threatening to violate certain fundamental rights of citizens of this country, guaranteed by the Constitution –the right to privacy and confidentiality.

“Can you tell this house, under what constitutional and legal basis is this identification process being rolled out,

what is the constitutional and legal basis for this exercise?”

Mr Naru asked.

In response, Mr Abel said PNG lacks good statistics and data to fully understand the demographics of the country, movement of people and others that had hampered development plans.

He said there are reforms at the National Statistical Office to get the census up-to-date, the CPI figures, the household income and expenses report, as well as the GDP and business activity survey to get actual GDP information.

“This is part of a broader exercise by the Government to once and for all get our statistic accurate and updated,” Mr Abel said.

He said the Government acknowledged individual rights but there is also fundamental rights to housing, education, health and others that the country is struggling to deliver.

“In order to do that best you need an accurate population information management system.”

Weather office issues warning

BY SHIRLYN BELDEN

THE National Weather Service is monitoring two tropical cyclones that are likely to occur just off the south sea coast of Papua New Guinea, the office has confirmed.

Director Jimmy Gomoga told the PostCourier last week that the country is in the middle of the wet season, which is a favourable period for tropical cyclones, of which one took effect over the weekend and moved along the shoreline of Western Province to Gulf.

Mr Gomoga confirmed that tropical cyclone Lam, category 3, travelled with a high wind gust at 195km an hour at 8am today, leading just above Darwin, Australia, and across the Coral Sea.

He said the Western and Gulf provinces are expected to experience wind gusts but may not be too dangerous if people take heed of warnings and notices continuously issued by the weather office.

“People there must be aware of the weather patterns and take heed of the warning notices not to travel out to sea.

Parts of PNG that is Western and part of Gulf are expecting wind surges.

“We are currently monitoring possible tropical cyclones caused by this wet season. The weather pattern is migrating back to the northern hemisphere and so such weather occurrences will occur,’’ he said.

The other cyclone being monitored is Marcia, a category 1 which takes effect off the Queensland coast and Townsville area at 120 km/per hour.

He said this may not be too dangerous to the coastal communities in Western Province but they were constantly warned to be aware of the dangers.

IT WAS dream come true for many rugby league fans in Port Moresby and particularly Queensland supporters. Former NRL superstar Brent Tate arrived in Port Moresby for the opening of a new hardware store for the Anitua Hardware store at Six-Mile. Anitua Hardware is a subsidiary of the Anitua Limited group of companies.

BRENT TATE AND FANS

THANKS MR PATO

I ACKNOWLEDGE my Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato for your good leadership and commitment to the people of Wapenamanda District w here I come from. We have seen so many tangible developments in the district where our former MPs have failed to implement in the past. You have put Wapenamanda at your heart and still care for your people. Tsak Valley and Lower Lai were the t wo constituencies needing basic roads and bridges which you have delivered in your short period of t ime and I commend you for that.

Wapenamanda has lacked such leadership in the past and now I believe the face of Wapenamanda, the gateway to Enga, has taken a modern shape. The best is yet to come and we believe and have faith in you that you will change the image of Wapenamanda.

Lungipin Don Wia dadoogecko@gmail.com

NO TO PROSTITUTION

PAPUA New Guinea is a Christian country and it must portray the very qualities and features of Christianity. The country is blessed with unlimited resources with which one can easily survive without money or an employment. Our leaders must know that our laws will portray w hether we are a Christian country or not. The legalising of prostitution is totally against Christianity and the people of this nation know that. God made every living thing male and female and the very purpose of creating them is for procreation and that is what Christianity is all about. Wednesday’s Post-Courier front page about prostitution was embarrassing. If prostitution is because of unemployment, then there are other ways to solve this problem and legalising prostitution is the last step our country should take.

Justeen (OMP) Kagit- Lae

Your opinions

PAPUA New Guinea is vulnerable to a myriad of threats. Some threats are obvious while others are difficult to detect. One obvious threat that needs immediate attention is the rapid loss of our natural resources through dubious investment deals and illegal activities. This situation is highly evident in the extractive industry.

Over the past 39 years, vast amounts of mineral and petroleum resources have left our shores but there is nothing evident in the country. Nowhere in the world will one find a country so blessed with abundant natural resources like PNG.

However, it is disheartening to note that the benefits derived from the extractive sector have not translated into any meaningful improvement in the welfare of

the people. The famous adage ‘so rich yet very poor’ aptly describes our plight. The lack of correlation between the benefits derived from the extractive industry and improvement in the people’s welfare, to a lack of effective and transparent corporate governance regime in the management of the benefits, derived from the extractive sector. It is encouraging to see the government establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund. This is a step in the right direction. In addition, the government would do well to make all investors in the extractive sector accountable, regarding the type and quantity of mineral and petroleum products that are exported. Under the current practice, a blanket approach is undertaken, whereby a mining or petroleum

The views expressed on these pages are the opinions of our readers. They do not

project operates with the objective to export a single commodity. While such is the agreement on paper, in practice other associated mineral and petroleum elements are also extracted and exported but the government is unaware of these covert operations. It is a geological fact that most mineral and petroleum elements are not always pure in their natural form and are found together with other mineral or petroleum elements. Many resource developers are equipped with this information and use the blanket agreement as a mask to illegally extract other mineral and petroleum elements that are inadvertently unearthed in the extraction process.

Eugene Kambut Port Moresby

WRITE TO US Text us on 208

Do not legalise prostitution

I AM strongly against legalising prostitution.

Firstly, Papua New Guinea is a unique nation in the world in many ways, and one of which is that, no nation on earth, apart from the nation of Israel, has cut a covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are the only nation in the world to have done that – and it was none other than the founding father of this nation, Sir Michael Arthur Somare who dedicated the country to God, and made the covenant with God.

Right after this significant event, we started to experience growth in our economy. LNG gas was discovered, many new discoveries of gold and other minerals were discovered, giving rise to this phrase: “Island of gold floating on a sea of oil, powered by gas”. This all came about because we made a covenant with God almighty. Any nation, people or person who makes a covenant with God gets His favour upon them.

I don’t need to prove that. Just look at the nation of Israel. That is why we must not be pressured by the UN, EEU or any other world bodies to legalise sinful acts. It is called fornication and adultery in the Word of God. As a covenant nation with God, we cannot violate his standards and principles.

Secondly, we cannot say that prostitution is a means to survive. Look at other developed countries, they look after their citizens well. But yet they legalise prostitution simply because it is an addiction. A sinful addiction like pornography. Their men cannot live with dignity and honour, and they want to lower their standards to that of demons. They go around blaspheming God by abusing His most blessed and wonderful gift of sex, a holy and consecrated act to be practiced only within the confinement of marriage. The very act of sex resembles the deep connection between the church and her husband Jesus Christ. That is why we cannot say it is a form of income earning. There are other means of earning a living.

Text us on 208

Thirdly, legalising prostitution will damage and demoralise the values and moral principles of the next generation of male leaders in our community. The future of a Papua New Guinea with strong male leaders who possess moral values and principles will be at stake. Legalising prostitution will increase the divorce rate in this nation. It will cause an increase in domestic violence and marital affairs. It will cause so many young men and women to lose their precious virginity, along with their moral values and principles. Imagine what kind of a nation it will be, where a young fresh graduate from university can just get his pay and walk right into a brothel and have sex with a total stranger and then walk out as if nothing happened. What a perverted and confused society we will become. For a brighter and better PNG, let us not betray our moral principles and godly values just to make a tiny majority indulge in their sinful cravings. God bless PNG.

Scott B Amira

Drivers must be trained, certified

DRIVING is a skill learned. Professional driving is the art of manoeuvring a machine in a careful and reliable manner. It involves enormous concentration to avoid mechanical, mental or forced accidents.

To be a professional driver, one has to grow up learning the skills and techniques of driving.

So many road accidents have occurred because the one sitting behind the wheel is not a trained and certified driver.

This is the story of Andrew Was, who has being driving for 20 years in PNG without getting involved in any road accidents.

Andrew was born in Mt Hagen and came to Port Moresby in 1992.

He loves driving because he was living with an uncle who was a driver.

In August 15, 1995, he had the opportunity to attend a driving improvement on defensive driving course for three months. The course was conducted by the Land Transport Department in down town Port Moresby, where the new Westpac bank is now. The drivers and to be drivers were taught a lot of skills and techniques by the then chief transport instructor Daniel Afuti and senior traffic officers, Yawa and Steven Mais.

Andrew passed out as a certified driver with an improvement driving on defensive driving certificate. He

PROBE UNRE LEADERS

Dr Alan Marat’s concerns raised in parliament with regards to East New Britain Province’s University of Natural Resources and Environment should be noted by the Higher Education Minister. Among concerns raised were its financial affairs and the absence of a Student Representative Council (SRC), awarding of contracts, and many more. Despite massive funding boosts to the university in recent years, there has been little to show in terms of the provision of quality learning and infrastructure. In certain instances, annual funding to some of the institution’s critical programs, like its farm and extension programs and research, have been drastically reduced or diverted for reasons known only by the university’s management. I would like to echo the minister’s concern for a full and independent investigation into the university’s affairs and recommend immediate changes that must be effected to safeguard UNRE’s image. If ignored, the current decline witnessed over the last few years will continue unchecked.

Greg Kombongo – Kokopo

has being driving all sorts of vehicles since then and boasts a clean record.

Andrew is now encouraging drivers to at least go through some driving lessons before getting behind the wheel. He also proposed a proper driving school to be established to allow drivers and non drivers to attend and get driving certificates. And through these certificates, they can be issued driving licenses.

Kami Hulape

ENFORCE PENALTY

The Government should enforce the death penalty for the sake of our women. Girls are raped and slaughtered like pigs; people are killed for unknown reasons. If this law is enforced, there won’t be any problems in our country.

Apulin Ul Tage

WE NEED WATER

As stated by the World Health Organisation: “The safety and accessibility of drinking water are major concerns throughout the world. Health risks may arise from consumption of water contaminated with infectious agents, toxic chemicals, and radiological hazards. Improving

access to safe drinking water can result in tangible improvements to health”. It has become a norm in settlements around our urban areas that after a long tiring day at work, people come home to stand in line just to fill their buckets with water. Please minister responsible as well as the local MP for Port Moresby North-east, my people in the Moitaka Eight-Mile settlement have been doing this for almost 20 years. Our mothers and children are suffering from carrying containers of water for kilometres. I grew up accepting this as a normal way of life but I don’t want this to happen to my kids. We have seen other settlements like New Erima community, ATS and Nine-Mile being granted water. Most of us are genuine workers who pay taxes as any other citizen of this country. We deserve such vital services.

Sarasie Kenny – Eight-Mile

RAISE LEARNING BAR

After reading the article “Principal decries selection criteria” (PC 20/2/15), I believe the outburst and the reasons stated by the principal of Simbu Teachers College is out of order and he should reconsider his comments. On the other hand, we must at all times (as educators) consider the quality of enrolments in the college and the expected outcomes of the college. Simbu must maintain its high standard of output of high quality students and not half baked graduates into the workforce. This is because in the long term, our children in PNG will suffer because of low quality teachers. Thus provincial education adviser Essy Waikaima and the provincial education board’s decision on the selection of teachers must be accepted. Simbu needs high quality educators for our children; that is the bottom line. Our trainee teachers must perform with high academic results.

Jijiro Tubuna

I cannot do what the other governors are I cannot do what the other governors are doing. Even the national Government is not Even the national Government is not using me to be the bridge with the ABG using me to be the bridge with the ABG.

Autonomous Region of Bougainville Regional MP Joseph Lera on Autonomous of MP Lera on the use of funds He believes there is a need to use the national the use funds. He believes there is a need to use the national Government annual grant of K100 million on high-impact projects that Government annual of K100 million on projects that would change the people’s thinking would the thinking.

Veteran radio host Roger Hau’ofa is still waiting for sponsors to have his beard shaved for charity. Feb 2, 2005

New turbine brings hope for Lae city

By FRANKIY KAPIN

LAE city will no longer have any power outages, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill when commissioning the new 25 trailer mounted (TM) megawatts (MW) gas turbine in Lae last week.

Mr O’Neill said the decision to acquire the gas turbines at a cost of K104 million did not happen overnight but came about as a result of constant blackouts with no immediate solutions.

He said the power woes faced in Lae and the country resulted from neglects of the past governments.

Mr O’Neill said the acquisition of the turbines through the Israel Electric and LR Group of Companies and the General Electric is the second for the country with the first one already commissioned and in use in Port Moresby.

Mr O’Neill indicated that the initiative will continue to provide some reliability and to maintain consumers and services that rely on electricity.

Speaking on behalf of PNG Power board chairman Larry Andagali, PPL board member Fingkewe Zurenuoc said the purchase and installation of the new TM2500+ gas turbine will provide a breath of fresh air for Lae residents.

Mr O’Neill said with Lae being labeled as the industrial hub of PNG, government coffers continue to be sourced from Lae city.

Climate change office backs plan

By DENYSE KALAU

THE Office of Climate Change and Development supports the new transport plan proposed by the Department of Transport to strengthen and modernize the public transportation system.

Executive director of OCCD Virigini Badira said the new transport plan is the way to bring efficiency and services to the public and private sector.

“This review is in line with the National climate change policy known as National Climate Compatible Development Management Policy introduced government last year which strongly urges for the review of the transport sector policy to drive Green Economic Growth towards a sustainable economy,” Mr Badira said. He said the review will address the need for proper planning and the support of local transportation system in the country.

That reduces time and cost and builds efficiency in travelling which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Badira said by improving time and cost efficiencies will mean reduction in miles travelled.

Developers urged to settle liabilities

BY JOHNNY POIYA

PORGERA landowners have called on the national Government and the developer of the Porgera gold mine, Barrick, to settle their outstanding liabilities before it can sell its 95 percent shares in the mining venture.

Both could not ignore all outstanding liability payments to be made to the affected landowners of the Porgera gold mine, which have been outstanding for the past 25 years starting from the first developer Placer Dome, the landowners said.

Porgera Landowners Association chairman Tony Mark Ekepa said Barrick PJV and the national Government must take ownership and be

MARK EKEPA Enga

liable for any damages done to the hosting communities by the mine operation.

Mr Ekepa made this call after claiming to have learned that the current developer, Barrick PNG, is already in the advanced stages of negotiating with interested foreign investors to sell of its 95 per

cent share in the Porgera gold mine.

The other 5 per cent is owned by the Porgera landowners and the Enga Provincial Government.

Mr Ekepa said in a media statement that the PJV’s intention to sell its 95 per cent shares in the mine may be based entirely on the commercial decisions, but it must take into account of all the unsolved grievances caused by the mine to the hosting communities in Porgera for the past 25 years.

He said landowners had major outstanding issues that needed to be addressed immediately by the developer and national Government including the resettlement program and the mining agree-

ment review which were in progress.

“Barrick PJV is already positioning itself to sell its shares without any consultations with prominent stakeholders like the Porgera Landowners Association, the only mouth piece of the seven major landowning clans in the Porgera SML area,” the landowner representative said.

Mr Ekepa said the PLOA strongly urged Barrick PJV and the National Government to take ownership and be liable for any kind of damages done to the hosting communities by the mine operations.

Mr Ekepa said any investor willing to buy the Barrick PJV’s 95 per cent share must pay upfront all liabilities to the landowners.

Dion refutes border funds claims

By GORETHY KENNETH

DEPUTY Prime Minister Leo Dion last week refuted claims that a K30 million border development funding for South Fly and South Bougainville was misused and diverted to buy seven

vessels instead. Mr Dion rubbished a newspaper report detailing that K30 million to build border posts at Kangu in South Bougainville and Wiam in South Fly districts were misused. South Fly MP Aide Ganasi had asked Mr Dion and the

Government to explain whether it was true that K15 million each for South Fly and South Bougainville had been diverted to buy seven vessels for maritime provinces.

Mr Dion replied that there were six maritime provinces and the six vessels bought

were from a different funding and not the border post funds. He said that the funds were still available and did not believe they were diverted or misappropriated as reported.

“It’s not true, the funds have not been misused according to our records,” Mr Dion said.

MINISTER Ben Micah, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Morobe

Governor Kelly Naru at the opening.

“Barrick PJV is already positioning itself to sell its shares without any consultations with stakeholders...

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Milne Bay to trial forestry protection

BY MEROLYN TEN

CENTRAL Suau in Milne Bay

Province has been selected by the PNG Forest Authority to trail an international mechanism to protect forests.

PNGFA director Ruth Turia said during the Central Suau REDD+ project workshop last week that the pilot project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that derives from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) worldwide.

“The project was supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) under their project climate protection through forest conservation in Pacific Island countries, which is funded by the German federal environment minis-

try,” she said. She said the PNGFA was responsible for conducting demonstration activities to gain experiences that supported the national implementation of REDD+.

Mrs Turia said Central Suau was selected to implement the reduction of impact logging and protect not only the forest but also the ozone layer, the biodiversity and the entire ecosystem.

“The provincial and local governments and the people living in Central Suau have agreed to this target in a consultation process led by PNGFA,” she said.

She said apart from Central Suau, there were four other areas in PNG identified and selected in June 2011, during a national planning meeting to carry out the same method of forest protection.

POLICE TURN TO GOD

Participants learn basics of video production

BY DENYSE KALAU

ABOUT 26 participants from the Seventh Day Adventist Church will now be able to produce their own television programs after successfully completing a one-month training on digital media.

The workshop is the first of its kind to be delivered by International Hope Channel in partnership with the Pacific Adventist University to give young men and women the knowledge and skills on digital media, particularly editing, directing and producing television programs.

Vice president of Hope Channel Kandus Thorp said media plays a very powerful role in reaching out to millions of people, and the training given by the highly-trained team from International Hope Channel is a good way for the participants to

utilise the knowledge that they have acquired to produce programs on issues affecting the nation.

Currently, there are a lot of issues on health, education, law and order, family and business that is affecting the nation and one way of addressing these issues is to come up interesting television programs that capture the attention of the people on what needs to be done to address these issues, she said.

Mrs Thorp said one of the biggest achievements of the training was the successful production of 300 programs in just a month by the participants in which none of the media stations particularly the TV stations has ever done.

The 26 participants were grateful for the knowledge imparted by the trainers which now enables them to have basic knowledge on television production.

Rubber farmers need help

RUBBER farmers in the North Fly district of Western Province have urged the government to help secure a market for their product.

Rubber is the main commodity for people in North Fly.

Samuel Hukins, a rubber farmer from Pampenai village along the Kiunga-Tabubil Highway, many people struggled to grow and harvest rubber but were not able to find a good market.

He said constraints like lack of road infrastructure to shift their rubber to Kiunga and lack of market are two of their bigger problems.

Mr Hukins said not all people living in North Fly have access to compensation payments from the

Ok Tedi mine for the damage of the environment, many people who reside outside of the agreement area continue to suffer due to lack of basic services.

He rubber is seen as the main cash crop in Western Province especially in North Fly and Middle Fly where every individual in the family has a plantation of rubber.

Mr Hukins even though North Fly Rubber Limited has been helping them by purchasing their rubber and do downstream processing , these is still not enough because there is no competition in the market. He said the Government is preaching about developing SMEs so it must help them.

THE police top brass all turned up, with their men, for a dedication service last week in Port Moresby. The constabulary is under increasing pressure to clamp down on ill-discipline in its rank and file.

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Meeting to help rural farmers

THE Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) in conjunction with the Institute of National Affairs (INA) and the Consultative Implementation andMonitoring Council (CIMC), has hosted a two-day workshop in Goroka to deliberate on issues and constraints affecting the fresh produce industry in the country.

The meeting, which lured more than 100 participants, has highlighted and recommended remedial actions on social and economical impediments that cast shadows on the industry.

FPDA’s acting general manager Robert Lutulele told the meeting that fresh food production and marketing are activities that demand collective efforts from the producers, traders, consumers and the government.

“The supply chain in the industry involves farmers motivation, basic training, security, road infrastructure, cooling facilities, transportation and buyers,” Mr Lutulele said.

“Most times rural farmers play their part by cultivating crops but government authorities failed their part by not maintaining/building roads and bridges.

“When this happens PMV trucks did not travel into the rural areas so the production could not to transported into urban centres for sale.”

Teachers give 1 week ultimatum

BY PEARSON KOLO

THE 300 teachers in the Chimbu who did not receive their leave fare entitlements from last year are demanding the provincial government to pay them their money.

This is after the teachers discovered that their leave fare entitlements totaling K778,500 were allegedly misused by the Chimbu provincial administration.

The teachers, who have taken the matter up with the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association Highlands regional office, said the provincial government must find money and pay them.

“We are giving the Chimbu provincial administration and the provincial education adviser to pay us our money as soon as possible,” the teachers said after the meeting with the PNGTA.

“We are giving the Chimbu Provincial Government one week and we want our entitlements to be paid after this week.”

The PNGTA Highlands regional secretary John Melson, who spoke with the teachers, said the teachers are prepared to take go on strike or protest if they are not paid.

Mr Melson called on Chimbu Governor Noah Kool to deal with

Zeming: Govt keen on inland fishing

FISHERIES Minister Mao Zeming has encouraged inland fishery as National Fisheries Authority has money for these projects for Highlands provinces.

He said this in Parliament last week after answering a supplementary question on inland fish farming from Dei MP Wesley Nukundj.

Mr Nukundj had asked the Fisheries Minister not to forget inland fishery because a lot of people in his district and the Highlands in general were venturing into this source of income.

Mr Zeming said normally the NFA helps programs in this sector through the provincial development funds but due to a lot of “paper fishermen” in the past the Government had stopped the program and placed it under review. The review would find better ways to ensure the funds were properly managed and accounted for.

Mr Zeming said the money under that program totalled more than K212 million.

At a glance

CHIMBU: 300 teachers are giving the Chimbu Provincial Government one week to pay them outstanding leave fare entitlements from last year or they will go on strike.

SILENCE: A source in the provincial government says the teachers will be paid but the silence from the top of the provincial bureaucracy is deafening .

SAME PROBLEM EVERY YEAR:

Teachers leave fair payments is one of the biggest bureaucratic bungles facing the government every year

the issue as he is a former teacher and is in a better position to know how the teachers are feeling.

Numerous attempts to get comments from the Chimbu Provincial Administrator and the provincial education adviser were not successful.

However, a senior provincial executive with the Chimbu Provincial Government claimed the teacher’s leave fare funds were not misused and would be paid to them soon.

The teachers said the time for paying leave fare entitlements is over as said their money was purportedly misused.

THE participants at the two-day meeting in Goroka last week.

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Police incompetency adds to court delays

THE Lae District Court cannot proceed with at least 20 cases a day because of police incompetency.

This works out to about 100 cases a week, says senior provincial magistrate Jeremiah Singomat, who was forced last week to defer six cases in his courtroom because police were not ready with their submissions. He said police slackness had resulted in cases accumulating.

Mr Singomat said police faced daily struggle to bring in detainees because of lack of vehicles or fuel shortage. He said these excuses should

not continue, adding that detainees had a right to fair and timely trial.

They should not be held in custody against their rights for too long, he said.

“If the trend continues, I am more than inclined to throw out the cases,” Mr Singomat warned.

Acting Lae Metropolitant Superintendent Timothy Pomoso said there was a shortage of fuel to refuel police vehicles.

He said police in Lae could not do much as the police headquarters owed the fuel service provider money.

Camp eyes school woes

THE national Lutheran students Easter Bible camp will be hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea during Easter.

The event’s fund raising committee chairman Roy Miringke said the purpose of the camp was to target youths in schools.

It will aim to help students to stay away from school fights and cult activities, Mr

Miringke said. He said the camp is an annual event held every year during Easter at Nawaeb Lutheran High School.

The organising committee has planned a much bigger event that would attract a huge number of participants.

He said school fights and cult activities have been an ongoing issue in Lae schools and around the country.

LOCALS BOMBARD STRANDED PARLIAMENTARIANS

OPPOSITION Leader Don Polye and Kikori MP Mark Maipakai listening and talking to the Bulolo people stranded at Kumalu River. The two MPs and their party that drove up to Wau to open projects initiated by Deputy Opposition Leader Sam Basil were also stranded for more than one hour by the river. The mighty Kumalu chased the MPs back to Wau to spend the night and fl y out of there by a light aircraft.

Miner tells parents: Send kids to school

RAMU NiCo Management (MCC) president Wang Jincheng has urged all parents of school-aged children in Kurumbukari Plateau to make it their business to send their children to school.

Kurumbukari in the Usino-Bundi district of Madang Province is where the Ramu NiCo (MCC) is developing the country’s first nickel/cobalt mine.

Mr Wang was the official guest last Wednesday when the company donated 60 desks with chairs to Enekuai Primary School.

In his address, the president said Ramu NiCo as a developer was mindful of local children’s future as far as education was concerned.

He said to show that the company is serious in supporting children’s education it had decided to donate sixty desks and chairs for children and teachers.

The company also donated stationery and volleyballs to a nearby elementary school.

“We will come with more assistance in the future if our project succeeds,” Mr Wang said.

“Therefore, I encourage all parents to send your children to school.

This is because if the jobs at Ramu NiCo Project are limited then we can produce lawyers, pilots, engineers and medical doctors who can find job elsewhere in PNG and even abroad.” He also told the gathering that the company was now at its

At a glance

SCHOOL VITAL: Ramu NiCo Management president Wang Jincheng urges parents to send their children to school.

MINER: The Ramu nickel mine is the single biggest Chinese investment in the country to date.

ramp-up period, but is also experiencing many challenges, including technical, cultural and natural.

“We are currently operating at 70 per cent design capacity. Our major shareholder and parent company, MCC group is pushing us to achieve 83 per cent to 85 per cent this year so that all of us can benefit soon after waiting for too long,” Mr Wang said.

“Our staff, management team and all local landowner hires and contractors are confident to deliver the project, therefore we need everybody’s support.”

He said the developer was committed towards landowners’ children in terms of education.

Under the revised MOA, Ramu NiCo pays certain amount of school fees to landowners children covering all its project impacted areas, including KBK.

“This is our long term commitment under the MOA,” he said.

If you have a story to tell, call us on 982 9186, or email

Coconut mills need govt help

THE two coconut oil processing units in East New Britain Province need support from the provincial and national governments.

Technical adviser and designer of the Vunakokor mini copra mill and bio fuel processing unit Peter Nguna, said both establishments are currently in their infant stages.

He said more product promotion for the coconut oil, quality control mechanisms and additional funding to expand into other coconut products such as shell charcoal, coir, stockfeed, soap and others are needed by both establishments.

The other establishment is the Rabaul virgin coconut oil mill located in Rabaul district while the Vunakokor mini copra mill is located in the Toma area of Gazelle district.

He said with so much money going down to

Landowners double compo demand

BY SHARON LOWA

PNG Power Limited and the East New Britain provincial administration have not met a K1 million compensation payment ultimatum deadline set by a landowner group which has now doubled its demand.

There had been an ongoing negotiation on pollution, between three parties which are PNG Power Limited, East New Britain provincial administration and the Rapikus Welfare Association, concerning the Ulagunan thermal power station situated on the town periphery, within the Vunabalbal ward in Kokopo district.

The demand came about after people in the surrounding area started suffering from the pollution caused by the power station on their health and the environment.

Landowner group chaiman Isidor Rerem expressed disappointments in PPL and ENBPA for the delay in addressing the issue, and their failure to conduct a joint inspection on health issues.

“Our people have suffered enough from the pollution and this has cost six infants lives, of which two have been confirmed by the doc tors to have died from the pollution. The environment that we live in is also polluted,” Mr Rerem said.

He said an ultimatum was given to PPL and ENBPA on January 7 for the two parties to carry out joint

At a glance

COMPENSATION: The landowners have doubled a K1 million compensation demand after PNG Power and East New Britain provincial administration failed to meet the initial ultimatum for that compensation over alleged pollution by PNG Power

inspections and communicate with the association within two weeks, but this was not done.

Failure to meet the ultimatum has now prompted the association to take other actions in which they are planning to demand for increase in compensation from the original K1 million to K2 million, closure of the power station and to mobilise non-governmental organisation to stage a peaceful demonstration in Kokopo.

Mr Rerem said prior to the ultimatum, there was an understanding that PPL and the provincial administration would provide funding for community projects, rural electrification, sealing of roads and resettlement of people from the surrounding area.

PPL Kokopo branch senior officials were contacted to comment on the issue but they said it was a sensitive issue and that they would respond at a later date.

the districts, the government can set up many micro food processing units at the village level and these can be used to process cash crops such as, coconuts, cocoa, coffee and others.

He said these do not require large capital investment and the country has enough skilled labours in villages.

He said Gazelle and Rabaul districts have shown that small coconut processing units can be established in the villages instead of in the urban or semi urban areas.

The Vunakokor mini copra mill was designed by Mr Nguna, a food technologist by profession, built by the co-operative members, and funded by the Gazelle district administration.

He said it did not require any technical expertise from outside the village except for the machineries.

WOMEN showing coconut soap they made at the Vunakokor mini mill.

If you have a story to tell, call us on 982 9186, or email postrabaul.spp@global.net.pg / or call 973 9188, email

People still getting used to new time

BY SEBASTIAN HAKALITS

THE Bougainville Standard Time (BST) which has come into effect on December 28 last year is slowly getting used to in the region.

The new time was adopted by the Bougainville House of Representatives at its September sitting last year and is 11 hours ahead of co-ordinated Universal Time, which means that Bougainville is one hour ahead of the rest of PNG.

Many schools in the first week of their classes have all followed the new time and students and their

parents wake up as early as 4am PNG time as it is 5am BST to prepare their breakfast and meals for lunch before walking to school. Many businesses have adapted to the time change but most ABG public servants are still arriving at work later than the new time.

An employee of Travel Air in Buka said as people are not yet used to the new time, many of the passengers arrive late for their travel time but the airline gives them ample time.

A public servant who wished not to be named said many of the public servants are not adhering

to the new time, with only a few getting to work on time.

He said as time goes by they will probably get accustomed to the new time zone.

Many villagers when asked on how they adapted to the new time said the ABG should have done an awareness throughout the region and a vote should have been conducted on whether they introduce it or not, and either.

Some said the ABG should have waited until the political future of Bougainville was determined before the new time zone was implemented.

Desperate villagers tell MPs: Meet us halfway

BY TOMMY ALASIA

THE Tupukas River in Arawa holds many fond memories for those who had associations with it.

The Tupukas Primary School got its name from being situated close to the tail end of the river.

Further upstream at the head of the river, however, it is a different story for communities on its banks.

They know the destruction and havoc the Tupukas River causes when it floods. Crossing it is the only means of transport and communication that support the Singkai, Piiva, Damaosi, Taungmiring, Laita, Dokotoru, Karangkena villages and dozens of hamlets along the Tupukas section of the Bovonari.

The river is a vital link for the people yet successive governments from the provincial government era to the present had not considered building a bridge to help the people. The prospect of building a bridge had been merely a dream.

This dream is now slowly taking shape to hopefully become a reality soon. In 2012, two community leaders initiated the idea of a swing bridge over this section of the river. They were Nehemiah Kompaon, a partially blind vegetable farmer, and Paul Taana, a tradesman with a record of constructing bridges and community crossings in the Bovoanari area under his belt.

The community contributed money, raised K300, and started the project.

Most of the building materials were borrowed from individuals on a trust basis or partially paid. The labour is free while the only payments are for hardware materials and consumable such as fuel and oil.

Most of the funding came out of the Mr Kompaon’s cabbage plots while Mr Taana is the brain behind the

construction. For as long as these two men can remember, they had been promised bridges by successive governments but to no avail.

The drive to help themselves came from seeing the people suffer at times from the might of the rver.

“Our women lose their goods, our children would miss school and vehicles are frequently washed downstream and damaged while crossing the flooded rive,” says Kompaon.

After the foundation of the bridge was laid, they saw that it was big enough to accommodate vehicles, thus, they decided to build it for vehicle crossing.

The bridge is far from complete and the funds are depleted. Construction has been stalled since January this year and the two leaders are looking at ways to source funding to complete the bridge.

“The 30 metre bridge has been constructed with manpower, even the massive 600mm “H” beam steel frames were hauled across with chain blocks,” Mr Kompaon says. “We’re half way through, can the ABG, our national Minister and regional MP meet us halfway?”

The two leaders said they had consulted the Works Department for assistance and were told that the construction cost has exceeded K500,000 and would require a certified engineer to do the scoping and the job be put on tender.

Taana and Kompaon are calling for assistance from their elected leaders in the Autonomous Government to help them complete the project.

“If we don’t build it, who will do it for us? It would probably take another 20 years if we wait on the government,” they said.

“If the bridge is not completed, it would be extreme for us, to say the least.”

BOUGAINVILLEAN public servants, gathered here at a church dedication service last week in Buka, are still struggling to get used to the new time zone.

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

Kina weakens against foreign currencies

BY GLORIA BAUAI

AS HAD been predicted by economists and certain financial institutions in the country years earlier, Papua New Guinea’s kina value continues to depreciate against foreign currencies.

In these recent months, the kina rate has seen a steady drop against the US dollar ($US) from 0.3910 in early December last year, to 0.3815 ending the month January 2015 and further down to 0.3795 last week.

According to reports and statistics, this sharp fall in the kina value started after 2012 and as predicted, will continue the downward trend as long as the demand for kina continues to decrease.

While speaking to media last Thursday, Governor for Bank of Papua New Guinea Loi Bakani, confirmed a mismatch in the market where the demand for foreign currency remained high while the supply coming into the country had decreased; which meant a decrease in the demand for kina, resulting in its depreciation.

Mr Bakani said prior to 2012, a lot of foreign currency was coming into the country through foreign companies attached with PNG LNG project for the construction phase.

He said during this time, foreign companies paying for operations in

the country increased the demand for kina, causing an appreciation in the kina value.

However, after the construction phase, when operations of foreign companies attached with LNG project stopped, supply for foreign currencies started to fall even though the demand still remains high.

“The kina has a floating exchange rate regime so its rate is determined by supply and demand for kina in the market, or vise-versa the foreign currency.

“PNGK is determined against the US and set by the market on a daily basis, so if there is more demand for foreign currency, then you will see the kina going down; as it has over the last few months,” Mr Bakani explained.

“On the other hand, the US economy is recovering and getting stronger, making the US dollar strong also.”

Mr Bakani further pointed out that the depreciation in kina value due to lower foreign currencies coming into the country is partly because of low international prices on PNG’s exports.

However, the central bank governor also stated that this was in the benefit of the exporters and encouraged exporters to increase production and export.

Commercial use of bank notes designs illegal

BY GLORIA BAUAI

THE BANK of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) has appealed to businesses in the country that are illegally using designs of bank notes for private commercial purposes to stop doing so.

BPNG Governor Loi Bakani said it has come to their attention that small businesses and traders, many of whom have no approval from the central bank,

The bottom line

have been using designs found on bank notes on their merchandises for commercial and advertising purposes.

He said those who are doing this without approval of the central bank were in breach of the act that protects these designs as property of the Bank.

“At this stage, we encourage people that before they can use this design on any commercial item or for advertising purposes, they

have to get approval from us,” said Mr Bakani. “It is under our Act that when you use designs on anything that is not legal tender, it is illegal.”

Mr Bakani said these designs are being printed on laplaps, stationary and even pictures of bank notes such as K100 put in wallets. He said the central bank will be issuing advertisements and public notices regarding this matter soon.

Market Snapshot

$A hovering around 78 US

Without approval of the Central Bank of PNG, using designs on bank notes for private or commercial purposes is illegal.

It is under our act that when you use designs on anything else that is not legal tender, it is illegal ...

LOI BAKANI Port Moresby

THESE charts from the Australian Development Policy Center shows it all. It’s expected that the downward trends continues.

Lae firm to set up wireless TV

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

TOLEC CABLE Television Company has announced that it will be introducing its wireless cable television service to its customers in Lae.

Tolec executive Danielle Coutts told the Post-Courier that Tolec is currently erecting a transmission tower 100 metres high to assist in rolling out its new initiative.

“We’ll be introducing a

product similar to the Digicel Play-box that will feature up to 80 television channels with the right type of package that will be affordable for customers to purchase.

“We’re hoping to reach our new customers who are outside of the cable TV range, especially those towards 10Mile, Nadzab and Igam Barracks, and other areas within the city vicinity itself,” Mrs Coutts said.

Mrs Coutts further stated that work on the transmission tower had commenced in December last year and over 50 metres of the framework had already been put up.

“There are areas in Lae such as Papuan Compound who are within the city but do not have access to cable TV, but we’ve conducted a test system of another pole we erected earlier on and the reception has been pleasing,”

she added. It was mentioned that the project of Tolec distributing wireless TV services is one that had been in progress for four years and this resulted in the firm purchasing the tower towards the end of 2012. Despite Digicel’s efforts in having a high clientele purchasing its wireless boxes, Tolec confirmed that this has not had an effect on their business.

Mrs Coutts said competition is healthy for ones business and it’s also beneficial for proper service delivery.

“It hasn’t really affected our service delivery because we’re selling antennas for the play boxes and we’ve had customers who have both Tolec and Digicel services in their homes,” she reaffirmed.

The tower is anticipated to be officially launched towards the end of March this year.

Juha landowner wants govt to pay IDG grants

BY ALFRED KANINIBA

JUHA PDL 9 LNG Project principal landowners are calling on the national Government to honour its commitment and pay the outstanding K55 million owed to them in grants according to their signed agreement with ExxonMobil under the umbrella benefit sharing agreement at Kokopo on August 14, 2009.

Chairman of Juha steering committee Nelson Hamabu, who has continued his efforts to have the money paid since 2012, is calling on Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to pay the Juha landowners of Western Province.

“The Prime Minister last year paid landowners from Central, Gulf and Southern Highlands provinces their IDG grants, in May last year and promised to pay Juha PDL 9, Hides PDL 1-7, Angore PDL 8 and Moran PDL 5-6, soon. It is now February 2015 and we are still waiting. I am calling on the Prime Minister and his ministers to settles us as soon as possible,” Mr Hamabu said.

He said the Juha steering committee was endorsed by the Fly River Provincial Government as of August last year in a provincial executive meeting as the legal and legitimate body representing the Juha PDL 9 landowners.

An agreement was reached between the PDL 9 LNG Project principal landowners on May 28, 2008, with the PNG government and developer ExxonMobil PNG Ltd on August 14, 2009, with all other Licensed area landowners flown to Kokopo to sign PNG LNG Umbrella Benefit Sharing Agreement.

The Juha chairman who represents the Phembi people in Nomad District in Western Province said a clause in the agreement stated that all affected project area landowners will benefit from the beginning of the project starting 2009. This was confirmed through an NEC decision#122/2009, 96/2010&49/2012 that opened up 10 trust accounts for each project area to divert their IDG funds for service delivery to the affected areas.

JUHA Steering Committee chairman Nelson Hamabu (right) and secretary Frank Neobia.

There are areas in Lae such as the Papuan Compound who are within the city but do not have access to cable TV ...

DANIELLE COUTTS Lae

Barrick refocuses company strategy

BARRICK Gold chairman John Thornton is promising a leaner company with a disciplined focus on its best assets and a decentralised operating model that gives its mine operators more control.

The Canadian Press last week quoted Mr Thornton saying; “when companies falter, it is usually because they’ve forgotten their original DNA — that is to say, what it is that made them distinctive and gave them their purpose and values and made them successful,” Thornton told analysts last Thursday.

“We believe the only way to recapture that is to consciously go back to the future and understand who we were, what made us distinctive, what gave us our purpose and our values and reinterpret that for the 21st century.”

Barrick, its subsidiary Barrick Niugini Limited operates world class Porgera gold mine in the Enga province which reported a $US2.85 billion fourth quarter loss after markets closed Wednesday, has struggled in recent years with weakness in the price of gold and problems developing its new mines.

The company admitted last week that it is negotiating to sell its 95% stake in the Porgera mine.

The company has written down the value of its operations, including its stalled Pascua-Lama project in South America, reduced its head office staff by nearly half, and eliminated layers of management between Toronto and Barrick’s mines.

When it was announced in December 2013 that Thornton would take over as chairman from Barrick founder Peter Munk, he suggested he would look at diversifying into other commodities.

On Thursday, however, Thornton said Barrick would be focused on gold.

“We have no plans to diversify into other metals and we

Oil prices force Santos to cut back cost

SANTOS says it is only halfway through a cost-cutting program that has seen 520 mainly South Australian and Queensland employees, and many more contractors, lose jobs in the under-pressure oil and gas sector.

The Australian Financial Review stated that the grim news for workers came as Santos reported a $935 million full-year loss on the back of $1.56 billion of previously flagged after-tax writedowns on its oil assets and the Narrabri coal seam gas project in NSW.

At a glance

BARRICK GOLD CHAIRMAN: John Thornton is promising a leaner company with a disciplined focus on its best assets and a decentralising operating model that gives its mine operators more control.

PORGERA MINE: Has reported a fourth quarter loss of $US2.85 billion.

have no plans to add to our existing copper position,” Thornton said.

His comments followed Barrick’s announcement of a $US2.45 per share loss in its fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $US2.83 billion or $US2.61 per share in the same 2013 period when it had fewer shares.

Revenue was $US2.51 billion, down from $US2.94 billion as the company sold fewer ounces of gold — 1.57 million versus 1.83 million — at an average realised price of $US1,204 per ounce compared with $US1,272 in the 2013 fourth quarter.

The most recent quarterly loss reflected the impact of $US2.8 billion in after-tax impairment charges primarily related to the Lumwana mine in Zambia and the Cerro Casale project in Chile.

The year-earlier loss included asset impairments at Pascua-Lama, a development project on the Chile-Argentina border that has been stalled by environmental issues.

INFORMAL SECTOR

BUSINESS is booming for the informal sector in Port Moresby. Everywhere you go on the main roads of the city there is at least someone selling something to people on the go. Pictured are two ladies sorting out the display of their sunglasses for sales at Waigani. They also sell bags and clothing.

New Britain Oil Palm issues new shares

NEW BRITAIN Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL), one of the world’s largest fully integrated producers of sustainable palm oil, is issuing new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the terms of its Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).

NBPOL announced this in a statement released last Thursday after its control fell under the Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd (Sime Darby Plantation) which triggered the vesting of a specified proportion of the LTIP Awards and the issue of 1,500,838 new ordinary shares to LTIP Participants in accordance with

NBPOL Statement

the LTIP Rules. The brief stated that Sime Darby’s control came after satisfying the minimum ac-

ceptance condition of the Offer and the satisfaction or waiver by Sime Darby Plantation of all other conditions of its offer per the Target Company Statement, for all issued and future shares in NBPOL at a price of GBP 7.15 or K28.79 per share in October, last year.

NBPOL further stated that following the issue of the new ordinary shares, the company’s share capital now consists of a total of 151,548,942 ordinary shares and the total number of voting rights in the company to be 151,548,942, as being one voting right for each ordinary share.

Bank reaffirms Oil Searchs’ outperform rating

RBC Capital has emphasised their outperformance rating on shares of Oil Search Limited (Oil Search) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning.

According to tickerreport. com, the firm currently has a $9.00 (K24.25) price target on the stock. RBC Capital has also updated their ratings on a number of other stocks in the last week. The firm raised its price target on shares of

Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd from $7.00 (K18.86) to $8.00 (K21.56).

They have an outperformance rating on that stock. Also, RBC Capital raised its price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. from $55.00 (K148.24) to $62.00 (K167.11).

The newswire reported that OSH has been the subject of a number of other recent research reports. Analysts at UBS AG reiterated a buy rating and set a $9.00 (K24.25) price target

on shares of Oil Search in a research note on Tuesday, January 20. Separately, analysts at Citigroup Inc. reiterated a sell rating and set a $8.18 (K22.04) price target on shares of Oil Search in a research note on Monday, December 15th.

Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock has a consensus rating of ‘hold’ and a consensus price target

of A$9.30 ($7.21). Shares of Oil Search traded down 0.71% on Thursday, hitting A$8.420. The stock had a trading volume of 3,620,189 shares.

Oil Search Limited has a 52week low of A$6.870 and a 52week high of A$9.880. The stock has a 50-day moving average of A$7.8 and a 200-day moving average of A$8.45. The company has a market cap of A$12.790 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.46.

The Adelaide oil and gas producer missed expectations on dividends and earnings but has become more confident it has gas to supply its all-important Gladstone LNG plant that is due to start this year.

Underlying profit rose 6% to $533m as income from Santos’s 13.5% share in the newly started Papua New Guinea LNG project offset lower oil prices. Analysts had been expecting underlying profit of $554m.

The Adelaide oil and gas company did not meet dividend expectations, leaving its final dividend unchanged at 15c per share, fully franked. Analyst consensus was for a 20c dividend.

Chief executive David Knox said Santos would target a 10% cut “per barrel” production costs this year and left capital expenditure guidance at the reduced $2bn level that was announced in December.

This appears at the lower end of a 10 to 30% cut to the “operating base” Mr Knox had previously said the company would target. “We will continue to proactively manage our costs, both capital and operating, in line with the current market environment,” Mr Knox said today.

He noted that despite the tough pricing environment, Santos had delivered its highest production in five years and reached record revenue in 2014. “The bottom line result nevertheless reflects the impact of the unexpectedly sharp downturn in oil prices towards the end of the second half in particular which saw us recognise significant noncash asset impairments,” he said.

Santos has frozen executive pay at 2015 levels and limited its short term incentive payment to Mr Knox and other executives to below what they were entitled to.

The companies share capital now consists of a total of 151,548,942 ordinary shares

...

BARRICK Gold chairman John Thornton. - business. financialpost.com

FLY IN COMFORT

Catch him if you can!

HELP! There’s a fugitive on the loose! And he’s carrying a huge bounty on his head. Will you be the one to catch him and cash in?

The DIGICEL PLAY FUGITIVE competition will begin this Monday, so if you would like to get in on the fun, tune into to NAUFM, YUMIFM or LEGENDFM between the hours of 7am and 9am.

The Breakfast Show hosts on each of these stations will randomly announce clues you’ll need to track the elusive fugitive down. Where on earth is he? And how on earth will you recognise him if you can get to the right place in the right amount of time? It’s the ultimate riddle that needs to be solved in the space of two intense hours.

If you happen to work it out and get to the right location in time, you must catch the person you believe to be the fugitive and ask him the following question: “ARE YOU THE DIGICEL PLAY FUGITIVE?” Failure to ask the question forfeits the right to the prize.

And what a prize it is! Up to K10,000 in cash and prizes! Just imagine what you could do with that! The competition kicks off with K1,000 cash.

Failure to track and catch the fugitive in time will force the money to

jackpot by an additional K500 per day.

So if at first you don’t succeed… well, there’s 500 additional reasons to keep trying! Stay tuned!

About Digicel

Digicel Group is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.

After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide.

The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Caribbean Premier League.

In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

BEING the most epensive aircraft in the world, the B767 has an interior lounge area for first class travellers that’s as comfortable as any in a hotel.

Global to cut internet pricing

GLOBAL Internet have announced they will cut pricing in April 2015 following company changes to reduce operational costs and services.

Global CEO, Andrew Edwards said customers can expect to save on their monthly bills and receive better Internet performance and speed.

“We now have more Internet bandwidth and increased redundancy to improve network uptime at a lower cost for our customers,” Mr Edwards said.

The change in pricing comes after investing in more competitive independent satellite services to further reduce Internet downtime caused by local carrier issues.

Mr Edwards said Global Internet customers will still experience the same high level of customer service including a responsive Help Desk and 24hour monitoring.

ICT security, safety tips

ICT SECURITY is Not Only for IT people

Never give out your password

Never share your password with anyone. Guard your password just as you guard your bank card PIN

Never say “yes” when your browser asks you if you’d like to save your password. Never write your password down.

Never send your password in email, even if the request looks official.

Fun ways to create a strong & memorable password

Change your password often. Guide on how to change your UMmail password

Never give out your password. Poster don't give password

Build your own website

TELIKOM PNG recently launched to the market its online solutions that enables individuals to create and own a website.

Telikom PNG Marketing and Business Development Divisional Manager Xavier Victor, said; “Telikom’s Online solution is a product we see will benefit a lot of average Papua New Guineans that have ventured into small to medium businesses where putting your business profile online is essential for a successful business.

“The website is a professional platform to host a company or business information online where market research by its

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There are two packages being offered at premium and personal rates and service application forms or service enquires for interested customers can call into Telikom business offices.

The internet remains a powerful tool to market products and services and Telikom PNG is confident that the online solution will add value to customers that come online.

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Home advance helps family

AFTER more than 20 years of living in an old rundown house and pushing a wheelbarrow two kilometres to the creek to do the washing and collect drinking water, Health Department Officer John Sipa and his wife Agnes decided it was high time their house outside Kimbe town in West New Britain Province had a real make-over.

But where would they find the money to do such an extensive job? John took on the fund-raising challenge.

His decision to approach the Nambawan Super office in Kimbe was soon rewarded.

To his amazement and delight, John discovered he was entitled to a Housing Advance of K20,000, thanks to his years of making superannuation contributions to the Fund.

With the help of the Nambawan Super staff, John filled in the application form and gathered the supporting documents needed.

Fast forward a month, the cheque arrives and work starts on making a big improvement to the family’s standard of living.

Today the house is sitting pretty on steel posts, with new walls, safe wiring for power points and lights and a water tank. And with the money left after building expenses John was also able to purchase a generator.

What a difference the Housing Advance has made to the Sipa family.

Easy access to fresh water.

Kids are able to do their studies under proper lighting.

Agnes grinning from ear to ear doing the laundry is nowhere near the chore it used to be!

Nambawan Super Chief Executive Officer, Garry Tunstall is optimistic that members eligible to utilising the Housing Advance Product make full use of the benefit.

“The Housing Advance Scheme helps you to maintain your existing property value through maintenance and renovation work.

It can help you own your own home and give you piece of mind after retirement,” Mr Tunstall said.

JOHN Sipa and his wife finally have drinking water at the doorstep.

Group: Sub plan makes sense

CANBERRA: Australia’s peak manufacturing industry group says the government’s plan for acquiring new submarines makes sense, but it falls short of their preferred approach.

The Australian Industry Group wants a full competitive acquisition, with vessels to be constructed in Australia.

The 10-month period for seeking bids from three international partners is also perhaps too short, and

there’s a case for including Sweden, AIG chief executive Innes Willox says.

“The decision to include France, Germany and Japan in the government’s unique competitive evaluation process for offering design of the new submarines makes sense, although this process falls short of the full project definition study preferred by the industry,” he said in a statement.

John Pollaers, Australian Advanced Manufacturing

Coptic Church: Forgive terrorists

MELBOURNE: Despite violently beheading their brothers and sisters in Libya, the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne says their followers should forgive and love the terrorists involved.

Last week, Islamic State fighters released a video of the beachside beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya.

A memorial service for those killed was held in Melbourne’s southeast on Saturday morning and attended by more than 600 mourners.

Bishop Suriel said it was a very emotional service for the whole Coptic Christian community.

“People needed to pray,” Bishop Suriel

told AAP on Saturday.

“It affected our community around the world because we feel as though those killed are our brothers and sisters.”

He said the congregation prayed for those lost and their families, but also for the terrorists involved in their deaths.

“We need to forgive these terrorists,” he said. “We also need to love them, as our lord has taught us.”

Mourners from all over Victoria attended the service, including those from the Romanian Orthodox Church and Anglican Church, as well as the consulate general of Egypt and a sheikh from the Heidelberg mosque.

Young Kiwi keen to help islanders

A YOUNG New Zealand entrepreneur is hoping to fund cataract operations in the Pacific by selling organic mascara.

Eighteen-year-old Bonnie Howland (pictured) makes her own eye make-up using coconut oil sourced from Samoa.

Now she is aiming to channel all the profits from her Indigo brand through the Fred Hollows Foundation, which in turn will use the money to pay for sight-restoring surgery in Pacific countries.

Ms Howland told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program, she was driven to make a difference after seeing the amount of curable cases of blindness in the Pacific.

“It came about when I travelled to Vanuatu and I learnt the story of a solo mother who had become blind due to cataracts,” she said.

“Because of that her young daughter had to drop out of primary school to help take care for her.”

Upon returning home, and to her job in the beauty industry, Ms Howland began wondering if there was anyway the multi-billion dollar industry could play a part in helping those in need.

“The mascara isn’t being sold in retail outlets or online yet, but I’m hoping we’ll be launched in the next six months,” Ms Howland said.

“Hopefully we can have a big impact in the Pacific Islands.” – ABC

Council chairman says the announcement of the acquisition strategy is a welcome step.

“The government has made it clear it expects international tenders to show they have the ability to work closely with Australian companies, including in combat system integration, design assurance and landbased testing,” he said in a statement.

“It is vital that the significant technological work is

undertaken here.” Defence Minister Kevin Andrews on Friday revealed the government’s planned approach to acquiring up to a dozen new submarines to replace the navy’s six Collins submarines.

The first, HMAS Farncomb, is scheduled to retire around 2025 and the government wants the first of the new boats in service by then to avoid a capability gap.

This will be Australia’s biggest ever defence acqui-

sition, costing up to $50 billion over the near half-century life of the program.

The government will invite France, Germany and Japan to submit designs and proposals for construction in Australia or overseas by the end of the year. This has produced mixed reactions. Excluded from the process was Sweden, designer of the Collins subs.

Defence company SAAB said they had a demonstrated capability to produce a

sub that met Australia’s requirements and also to build in Australia.

“If government policy on this matter changes we stand ready to offer our capabilities to Australia and move forward with a proposal,” SAAB’s Gunilla Fransson said in a statement.

“Saab is also a supplier of leading edge submarine and underwater subsystems and we are ready to engage in any discussion on these technologies.”

Army sends 700 troops for clean-up

BRISBANE: Seven-hundred Australian Defence Force soldiers are being sent to the worst hit areas from Cyclone Marcia to help locals in the aftermath of the destructive category five storm.

Queensland Premier

Annastacia Palaszczuk said the ADF were ready to send separate batches of soldiers from both Townsville and Brisbane to Rockhampton and Yeppoon, which were both hit by Marcia on Friday.

The state disaster management committee were briefed by the ADF on Saturday morning in Brisbane.

“They have 350 soldiers available to travel from Brisbane and 350 soldiers available to travel from Townsville,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“They also have helicopters on stand-by if needed.”

Ms Palaszczuk is also preparing to travel to Rockhampton and Yeppoon where more than 550 properties were destroyed in the cyclone and tens of thousands of homes left without power.

The premier said 89 per cent of properties in Rockhampton didn’t have power and most of Yeppoon was in blackout.

“Power now is the crucial issue and it is going to take some time to restore power,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Yeppoon has suffered the

brunt of the cyclone and it’s going to take a lot longer for power to be restored.”

She said Ergon had sent 800 staff to the area and Energex was waiting until roads were cleared to send in another 100 staff.

Both Rockhampton and Yeppoon hospitals were up and running on their own standalone power sources.

The government is installing generators to power traffic lights in the central business districts of both towns.

The Bruce Highway has been cut south of Rockhampton.

About 56 schools have been damaged and the government expects to provide a list of schools that will be open on Monday.

Ms Palaszczuk also said the governments of NSW and Victoria have offered Queensland any assistance they could provide.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Rob Webb said the storm, which has weakened to a tropical low, was lashing Brisbane and the Gold Coast with heavy rain and strong winds.

He said there would be significant localised flooding, but fears of widespread flooding like in 2011 and 2013 have been played down.

The bureau expects the system to move out to sea on Saturday afternoon.

Road to recovery

TROPICAL Cyclone Marcia is gone, but it has left an impression on central Queensland that many will not soon forget.

The category five system made landfall on Friday morning, tearing through townships such as Yeppoon and Rockhampton, and inundating surrounding areas with floodwaters.

This weekend, while residents in the south-east corner of the state endured the wrath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia, their counterparts to the north were busy cleaning up the mess and getting on with life as best they could.

At Yeppoon, there were some trying to make the best of a bad situation. They lined up out the door at the local drive-in bottle shop and even the beach, while officially closed, earned a bit of interest from locals keen to beat cabin fever.

But for some residents, this weekend marked the beginning of a very long road to recovery.

Trees came down across powerlines and fences while some missed homes by metres and even inches.

Other properties were not so lucky, with 260 kilometre-per-hour gusts ripping out roofing and tearing out walls from homes.

On Saturday, residents sought through the belongings they were unable to take with them when they evacuated, salvaging what they could and leaving the rest destined for landfill. By early morning, piles of green waste had also begun to grow on footpaths. Some streets

were deadly quiet besides the odd sound of a chainsaw in the air. State Emergency Services (SES) personnel were also spotted throughout the area, slowly making their way through its long list of calls from concerned residents.

If the workload was not enough to tire them, perhaps the temperature was. It hit the low 30s in the area over the weekend, a stark reminder that summer was not over yet.

In Rockhampton, ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia’s footprint was everywhere. Even on the outskirts they were easy to spot - the long grass and small trees that once stood straight by the creeks were crushed flat, moved by the force of the rushing waters a day earlier.

Just how badly Marcia had hit only became more obvious closer to the coast, with more and more trees stripped of their bark, leaves and branches, and some just snapped in two or uprooted.

Upon entry to Rockhampton, the picture became a whole lot clearer. Vegetation was scattered around the streets like confetti, traffic signs were either bent, broken or missing.

Various sets of traffic lights were inoperable with electricity cut to thousands thanks to the 1,800 power lines brought down in the Ergon Energy network. That did not deter motorists from taking to the streets though, with hundreds queuing up for hours to pump petrol at the town’s only open and unaffected service station. – ABC

KATIE and Niah Hepburn, 9, stand in what was the of fi ce of their home. Picture: ABC

FRIENDS of Shaun and Demelza Bischoff help them dry clothes and belongings after the cyclone: Picture:ABC

Queensland faces flood threats

BRISBANE: Ex-cyclone

Marcia is continuing to spread misery, with some Queensland communities now flooding as others get on with cleaning up the enormous damage left by her ferocious winds.

The army will lend its muscle to the vast recovery task now underway in the hardhit communities of Yeppoon and Rockhampton.

That help can’t come soon enough with so many people, from pensioners to young families, struggling without

roofs over their heads and essential services such as power and sewerage cut.

The army has already done some preliminary work, flying over the battered communities to take aerial pictures of the damage and help emergency services work out where to focus their efforts.

But the drama caused by the former cyclone is not over yet. The torrential rain the storm generated has flooded the Mary River at Gympie, swamping at least

NT cleans up as Lam heads off

DARWIN: Clean-up efforts in the Northern Territory have begun as ex-tropical cyclone Lam brings heavy rainfall to Western Australia. A severe weather warning is still in place for Daly, Gregory and Tanami.

NT Chief Minister Adam Giles on Sunday inspected the hardest-hit island communities with Acting Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.

About five thousand residents in Galiwinku on Elcho Island, Gapuwiyak in Arnhem Land, Milingimbi and Ramingining bore the brunt of the category four storm as it carved a path of wreckage through Arnhem Land early on Friday.

The NT government declared a state of emergency in those areas on Saturday, which it said would help with the recovery effort.

As Power and Water Corp crews work to restore services, those in affected areas are urged to boil water from a tap before drinking it until advised that tap water is safe.

Residents are also asked to stay clear of downed powerlines and floodwaters, which may hide sharpe objects, crocodiles, snakes and sewerage.

Ex-cyclone Lam is forecast to move into WA’s Kimberley and North Interior district later on Sunday, bringing heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.

A severe weather warning has been issued for people in effected areas including those in the towns of Derby, Kuri Bay, Kalumburu, Wyndham and Kununurra.

The Bureau of Meteorology says showers and thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the regions.

“This is typical weather for this time of the year, but rainfall may be locally heavy and could cause damage to property and make road conditions hazardous,” the bureau says.

Gale force winds on NSW coast

SYDNEY: Gale force winds are expected to buffet the NSW north coast as a trough extending from Cyclone Marcia moves out to sea.

State Emergency Services will remain on hand in the region, with gale force winds expected between Byron Bay and Port Macquarie on Sunday. It follows almost two days of rain and minor flooding in the area spurred on by the devastating southward passage of Marcia over the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology said on Saturday it expected the low pressure system to move through northern NSW on Saturday night before departing the coast during Sunday.

“Very heavy surf which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion is forecast for the Northern Rivers forecast district and northern parts of the Mid North Coast forecast district,” the BoM said in a statement.

“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.”

The SES has responded to more than 700 jobs since Friday, mostly related to inundation, minor property damage and fallen trees.

On Saturday night the BoM said flood warnings were still current for the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Wilsons rivers.

a dozen low-lying businesses. A major flood peak of 17 metres is due on Sunday. That’s about three metres below the level seen during the town’s 2013 flood. Meanwhile, the small town of Jambin, south of Rockhampton, has seen evacuations due to flooding in the Callide River.

A major flood warning is also in place for the Upper Burnett River, with flooding expecting in the town of Eidsvold. Moderate flood levels are also expected

downstream at Mundubbera and Gayndah.

Minor flood levels are expected in the lower reaches of the Burnett River at Bundaberg on Sunday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called in the army after the scale of the damage became clearalmost 550 houses damaged, many stripped of their roofs, others left without walls. On Sunday, there were still about 60,000 homes without power, down from the peak of about 100,000.

State Emergency Service Assistant Commissioner

Peter Jeffrey said the SES had dealt with more than 6000 calls for help since the wild weather began lashing the state, and 4300 of those calls had been dealt with. He said the SES was now getting more calls for help with flooding.

Mr Jeffrey said the army’s help was already proving invaluable, with military aircraft flying over hard-hit communities to generate a snapshot of the damage, and

help identify where resources need to be focused.

“We’ve received the imagery this morning. We’ll use that to help with our planing an analysis of the situation.” He said structural experts from the military would arrive in central Queensland on Sunday to help with damage assessments. Lincoln Phelps is the manager of The Royal Hotel at Gympie and is facing yet another flood clean up, with dirty water through the property’s bottom bar.

Malaria on India-Myanmar border a huge threat

RESISTANCE to the drug that has saved millions of lives from malaria has been detected over a wider area than previously thought, scientists warn.

The ability of the malaria parasite to shrug off the effects of artemisinin has been spreading since it emerged in South East Asia.

Tests, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, now show this resistance on the verge of entering India.

Experts said the development was “alarming” and an “enormous threat”.

Deaths from malaria have nearly halved since 2000, and the infection now kills about 584,000 people each year.

But resistance to artemisinin threatens to undo all that hard work, and it has been detected in:

Cambodia

Laos

Thailand

Vietnam

Myanmar, also known as Burma

Blood samples from 940 people with malaria from 55 sites across Myanmar showed this resistance was widespread across the country.

One site, in the Sagaing region, showed that resistant parasites were just 25km (15 miles) from the Indian border.

One of the researchers, Dr Charles Woodrow, from the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, in Thailand, told the BBC News website: “We can see artemisinin resistance is clearly present quite close to the Indian border, that’s clearly a threat and in the future is likely to lead to extension of the problem to neighbouring areas.”

Artemisinin is normally given as part of combination therapy.

Initially the other drug will pick up the slack to keep the combination effective, but Dr Woodrow says this resistance will “inevitably” lead to it failing.

“If this were to spread into India, malaria will continue to affect rural populations there, but there may not be an immediate effect on curerate,” he said.

“But beyond the short term, there is very likely to

At a glance

ALERT: Prof Philippe Guerin, the director of the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network, said: “This study highlights that the pace at which artemisinin resistance is spreading or emerging is alarming.

REPETITION: “The new research shows that history is repeating itself, with parasites resistant to artemisinin drugs, the mainstay of modern malaria treatment, now widespread in Myanmar.

be a problem, and there are very few [other] drugs on the table.”

This has all happened before.

Chloroquine probably saved hundreds of millions of lives, but resistance was discovered in 1957 around the border between Cambodia and Thailand.

Resistance spread around the world and reached Africa 17 years later.

There is no evidence of artemisinin resistance in Africa yet, although there is concern that history is about to repeat itself with deadly consequences.

Dr Woodrow told the BBC: “The evidence from the global spread of chloroquine resistance is this translates to a large increase in the number of cases and a higher number of deaths.”

South East Asia has been implicated in the rise of resistance to both chloroquine and artemisinin.

The main explanation is that lower levels of natural malaria immunity exist in the region than in Africa.

With no background resistance, the drugs have to do all the work in infected patients in South East Asia.

But there are far more cases of malaria in Africa, and repeat infection is common so people there develop some immunity.

It means the natural immune system and the drug share the load of fighting off malaria.

This makes South East Asia a riper region for the parasite to develop resistance.

-BBC news

Bouquets and brickbats over Bali Nine pair

JAKARTA: Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are clinging to the hope they can continue their lives helping Indonesian inmates, their brothers say.

The Bali Nine duo were to be moved from Bali’s Kerobokan jail last week but a team reporting to the attorney-general found the execution location, the Central Java prison island Nusakambangan, was under prepared.

The bottom line

US signals delay in Afghan troop pullout

KABUL: President Barack Obama’s new Pentagon chief says the United States is seriously considering slowing the pace of a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, as the country faces a growing Taliban insurgency.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s comments in Kabul on Saturday offered the clearest sign yet that Washington was ready to delay the closure of some bases and retain more troops after appeals by Afghanistan’s new President Ashraf Ghani and advice from commanders.

To safeguard “hard-won” progress, Obama “is considering a number of options to reinforce our support for President Ghani’s security strategy, including possible changes to the timeline for our drawdown of US troops,” Carter said after talks with Afghan leaders.

“That could mean taking another look at the timing and sequencing of base closures to ensure we have the right array of coalition capabilities,” he said at a joint news conference with Ghani.

Carter’s visit comes amid a sharp rise in Afghan casualties from the 13-year conflict, with the UN recording a 22 per cent increase in the number of civilians killed and injured in 2014 due to an intensification in ground fighting between government and insurgent forces.

It also comes as Obama faces a decision about the timetable for a troop drawdown in Afghanistan. Under the current plan, the 10,000-strong US force is due to drop to roughly 5000 by the end of 2015 and then pull out altogether by the time Obama leaves office in two years.

-AAP news

Indonesia recalls envoy to Brazil

IN a sign of increasing international tension over Indonesia’s enforcement of the death penalty, Jakarta has recalled its key official in Brazil over what it says was unacceptable treatment of him at a formal ceremony.

It leaves Chan, 31, and Sukumaran, 33, more time to spend with family visiting from Sydney, and more time for their lawyers to prepare a legal challenge set for this week.

Their brothers Michael Chan and Chintu Sukumaran say they are amazed at their resilience under such stress. They’re also touched by the support they’ve received.

“As they reflect on their past

they are also thankful to the Indonesian government, the prison officials and many volunteers that have allowed them to create a wholistic rehabilitation program that is now the envy of most prisons worldwide,” Michael Chan told reporters outside the jail on Sunday.

“We see and hear many prisoners doing courses go on to jobs and better lives.

“Our brothers’ great wish

is for the president to allow them to continue this help to rebuild the lives of many Indonesians for many more years to come.”

Chintu Sukumaran said both men had a deep respect for Indonesia and hoped all supporters would remain respectful too.

“It was through the support of the Indonesian justice system that they were able to help set up many programs

that have helped a lot of Indonesians and have also helped better themselves,” he said.

On Saturday, members of a Bali-based group called Mothers for Mercy arrived at Kerobokan jail with armfuls of flowers and cards for Chan, Sukumaran and the prison staff.

Anne-Maree Pearce said the tributes were sent from mothers all over the world who connected through Facebook.

Prisons are not shitholes. They are places with rehabilitation programs that reshape crooks.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry said the country’s new ambassador went to the Brazilian presidential palace to present his credentials but his involvement in the ceremony was postponed without warning.

In a statement the Indonesian foreign ministry said the act was “unfriendly” and it had recalled the envoy, Toto Riyanto, in protest.

-AAP news

MALARIA is spread by mosquitoes. Picture: BBC

Turkey favours China missile deal

TURKEY appears ready to buy a long-range Chinese surface-to-air missile system despite its incompatibility with Nato equipment.

Turkey is a key Nato member, and reports say US and French arms firms have been vying with China’s CPMIEC.

The $3.4bn (£2.2bn) Chinese system would be used “without integrating with Nato systems”, Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz said. Reports say Nato and the US have urged Turkey not to accept the Chinese offer.

According to a Turkish defence industry official, Ankara has not yet taken a final decision on its planned long-range missile defence system and contract talks with China are continuing, Reuters news agency reports.

He was speaking after the comments from Mr Yilmaz, who was responding to MPs’ questions about Turkey’s missile defence project.

Mr Yilmaz said Turkey had finished the evaluation process for the project.

The Russian news website Lenta.ru reports that Turkey plans to buy at least 12 Chinese HQ-9 missile batteries. The Chinese system is cheaper than rival systems, it reports.

The other contenders for the contract, Lenta.ru reports, were: the Patriot made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in the US, the SAMP/T made by the French-Italian consortium Eurosam, and Russia’s Antey-2500 made by Rosoboronexport.

Luna New Year celebrations

LUNAR New Year celebrations are underway in China and around the world to usher in the Year of the Goat.

The start of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important date in the Chinese calendar.

The festival is also celebrated widely by Asian communities all over the world.

Hundreds of millions of people in China travelled to their home towns ahead of the festival which is a time for family reunions and gatherings.

For many Chinese workers,

it is the only chance they have all year to return home.

Nearly all Chinese companies and government departments close during the festive period which runs from February 19 to March 5.

The Lunar New Year is a period of hope and optimism as people wish each other good fortune whether that be related to work, relationships, study or health.

“This is a tradition we have had for a very long time.

It brings a special atmosphere,” one young man told the ABC.

“Because I’m grown up it’s

not as interesting as it was when I was a child. But it still makes me happy.”

A street vendor selling kebabs in Jiangsu province said he hoped to “make a fortune this year”.

“My business is very good tonight. If my business is good then my life will be good.”

However, as happens with every zodiac animal, the Year of the Goat is seen by practitioners of Chinese astrology or feng shui as a good year for some and a bad year for others.

-ABC news

WORSHIPPERS wearing sheep caps make their first offerings of the Chinese Lunar New Year inside Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hong Kong. Picture: ABC/REUTERS

A CHINESE air defence battery: Beijing may have beaten Western rivals to a major defence contract. Picture: BBC

‘Coup plot’ charge for Caracas mayor

CARACAS Mayor Antonio Ledezma has been indicted for plotting violence against Venezuela’s government, a move condemned by the country’s opposition.

The attorney general’s office said Mr Ledezma, 59, would remain in a military prison pending his trial.

President Nicolas Maduro earlier accused the opposition mayor of being involved in a US-backed coup.

This comes on the anniversary of the start of protests against Mr Maduro’s rule that left dozens of people dead.

On Friday, opponents of the president again protested in the capital against what they described as a crackdown on his political opponents.

The US has also denounced the “systemic intimidation” by the Venezuelan authorities of the country’s opposition.

State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “Venezuela’s problems cannot be solved by criminalising legitimate, democratic dissent.”

The news of Mr Ledezma’s arrest was surprising, but Venezuelans have seen this before. Of 76 opposition mayors in office, 33 are facing a trial.

Last time a prominent opposition politician was jailed - Leopoldo Lopez, a year ago - there were large street protests. But not this time.

Opposition leaders asked people to not take the “government’s bait” by staging large protests, a scenario which would make violence more likely. Many analysts argue that protests benefit the government as they create a common threat unifying the government’s supporters, and giving Mr Maduro grounds to condemn the opposition.

The opposition’s strategy this time is different. It aims to win parliamentary elections later this year by

Greeks face tough future

GREEK prime minister Alexis Tsipras says that a hard-fought deal with European creditors ends the country’s austerity commitments, but the “real difficulties” lie ahead.

“We achieved much, but we have a long and difficult road ahead,” Mr Tsipras said in a nationally televised address hours after the deal was announced.

At a glance

CHARGE: Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma has been indicted for plotting violence against Venezuela’s government, a move condemned by the country’s opposition.

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE: Said Mr Ledezma, 59, would remain in a military prison pending his trial.

capitalising on Mr Maduro’s declining popularity. That would be a outcome not seen for decades in Venezuela.

The attorney general’s office said on Friday that Mr Ledezma was charged with conspiracy to plot violence against the government.

This came a day after camouflaged police smashed into the mayor’s office in the banking district and carried him away.

President Maduro has said the opposition leader must answer “for all the crimes committed against the country’s peace and security”.

But the country’s opposition is now demanding the authorities produce any evidence of the alleged conspiracy.

Opposition leader

Henrique Capriles asked: “Does Maduro think that putting everyone in prison is going to get him 50 popularity points or that he’s going to win elections?”

Mr Ledezma was on a list of people and foreign powers named by Mr Maduro last week as attempting to bring down his administration.

Mr Ledezma, Caracas mayor since 2008, replied that it was government corruption that was bringing down Venezuela.

Last year, weeks of antigovernment protests led to more than 40 deaths.

-BBC news

“We took a decisive step, leaving austerity, the bailouts and the troika. We won a battle, not the war. The difficulties, the real difficulties are ahead of us.

“Yesterday’s agreement with the Eurogroup cancels the commitments of the previous government for cuts.

Hundreds mark Malcolm X’s death

ACTIVISTS, actors and politicians gathered Saturday in New York City to honour civil rights leader Malcolm X with a ceremony at the Harlem site where he was assassinated 50 years ago.

About 300 people converged to hear remarks from one of Malcolm X’s six daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, as well as elected officials. The ceremony was held at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom.

A blue light shone onto the floor in the exact spot where he was gunned down. A mural with images of Malcolm X adorned a wall. -Stuff news

Nurse may have Ebola

AN Australian nurse is under observation in Britain for the deadly disease Ebola.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the nurse was put under observation after a “low-risk clinical incident” at the Australianmanaged Ebola Treatment Centre in Sierra Leone.

She said the nurse - whose name hasn’t been released for privacy reasons - was transferred to Britain under the agreement secured by the Australian government before establishing the centre.

Bishop said a medical assessment in Britain determined that the risk of the nurse developing Ebola remained low. -Stuff news

UK security services ‘failed’ over Syria girls

THE family of a Glasgow woman suspected of encouraging three London girls to join Islamic State (IS) say officials “failed” to stop them leaving the UK.

Aqsa Mahmood, 20, who went to Syria to be a “jihadi bride” in 2013, reportedly had online contact with one of the girls who left London last week.

It is feared that Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Shamima Begum and Amira Abase,

15, may try to join extremists in Syria.

Scotland Yard said it would not discuss matters of surveillance and security.

In a statement, Ms Mahmood’s family said it was “full of horror and anger” that she “may have had a role to play” in recruiting the girls for IS.

“However, the security services have serious questions to answer,” the family added.

“Aqsa’s social media has been monitored since she disappeared over a year ago, yet despite alleged contact between the girls and Aqsa, they failed to stop them from leaving the UK to Turkey, a staging post for Syria.”

The statement said despite UK government “rhetoric” about IS, authorities had not taken “basic steps to stop children leaving” to join the militants.

Addressing Ms Mahmood, who moved from Glasgow to Syria to marry an IS fighter, the family added: “You are a disgrace to your family and the people of Scotland, your actions are a perverted and evil distortion of Islam.”

Their lawyer Aamer Anwar told BBC Breakfast that they wanted to know how the girls could have been allowed to travel to Turkey alone.

He added: “They are deeply

distressed and angry. They are thinking: ‘How many other families is this happening to?’.”

Kadiza, Shamima and Amira, who all attended Bethnal Green Academy in east London, flew from Gatwick to Turkey after telling their parents they were going out for the day.

Police said they had been interviewed after another girl from their school went to Syria in December, but

nothing had indicated they were at risk.

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford says Ms Mahmood uses a Twitter account to encourage British women to join her in Syria, and that last Sunday Shamima sent her a message via Twitter.

He said it was not clear whether the London girlsall “star GCSE pupils” - had yet crossed from Turkey into Syria. -BBC news

LEDEZMA supporters rallied in Caracas, demanding his immediate release. Picture: BBC

Gunmen abduct 89 boys in South Sudan

GUNMEN in war-ravaged South Sudan have abducted at least 89 boys from their school in oil-rich Upper Nile State, the United Nations says. The boys - some as young as 13 - were taken while doing their exams and the total number of kidnapped children could be “much higher”, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

“According to witnesses, armed soldiers surrounded the community and searched house by house. Boys older than 12 years of age were taken away by force,” UNICEF said in a statement. No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions and the gunmen’s intentions were not clear, though in the past armed groups have forcibly recruited children before major offensives.

Nigeria forces retake border town from rebels

NIGERIAN forces backed by air strikes have seized the north-eastern border town of Baga from Islamist group Boko Haram, the military says.

Retaking the town - at Nigeria’s border with Chad, Niger and Cameroon - was one of several moves by the military in the past two weeks, and was particularly important as Baga was the headquarters of a multinational force of troops from all four countries.

The militants had claimed an attack on January 3 that killed scores of people and left the jihadists in control.

“We have secured Baga. We are now in full control. There are only mopping up exercises left to do,” defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade said by telephone.

In a statement minutes earlier, Mr Olukolade had said “a large number of terrorists had drowned in Lake Chad” as troops advanced on Baga.

The Islamist fighters appear to be on the run in many parts of Nigeria and regions near its borders after being subjected to a major offensive on all sides.

“Not even the strategy of mining over 1,500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the

terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops,” Mr Olukolade said in a statement earlier in the day.

Successes in pushing back Boko Haram are welcome news for Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who faces an election on March 28 that was delayed by six weeks on the grounds that more time was needed to fight the insurgency.

The poll, however, also provides a strong motive for the government and military to talk up successes.

The Sunni Islamist militants have killed thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds in a six-year insurgency that gained strength in the past year, carving out a territory the size of Belgium and intensifying cross-border raids.

To counter that threat

neighbouring states, where Boko Haram fighters habitually flee after hit-and-run attacks, are pursuing a strategy of pushing them back into Nigeria.

A spokesman for Chad’s army said his troops did not participate in the Baga offensive. Niger and Cameroonian militaries were not immediately available for comment. But in a sign of their ability to strike at neighbours, at least 23 people were killed in fighting overnight in an attack carried out by Boko Haram on the island of Karamga, on the Niger side of Lake Chad, held by Niger’s army.

Niger’s president, Mahamadou Issoufou, reiterated a pledge to defeat the group in a speech in the southern border town of Diffa, the scene of a

wave of attacks this month.

“We are going to win this war because we are not alone,” he said on Saturday outside an army barracks.

“We will come out from this test more experienced and battle-hardened.”

In a visit to Chad and Cameroon on Saturday, French defence minister Laurent Fabius expressed his solidarity and said international allies needed to give more financial support.

“We are working to get the force off the ground and contribute financially so that the burden is not heavy on the countries concerned,” he said, referring to an 8,700strong force from the four countries plus Benin that military chiefs plan to agree on next week in Chad’s capital N’Djamena. -ABC news

Russia risks serious snactions over Ukraine

Washington is considering “serious sanctions” against Russia for undermining a European-brokered truce in eastern Ukraine, US secretary of state John Kerry says.

Mr Kerry said US president Barack Obama would make a decision “in the next few days” in response to the breach of a ceasefire.

The Ukrainian military accused Russia on Friday of sending tanks and troops into eastern Ukraine despite a ceasefire that went into force

The bottom line

last Sunday.

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to the allegation, but has always denied accusations in the past that its forces are fighting in Ukraine.

Mr Kerry said the US “knows to a certainty” of Russia’s involvement in the conflict and the support it was giving to the separatists.

“Russia has engaged in an absolutely brazen and cynical process over these last days,” Mr Kerry said.

“I anticipate that president Obama will evaluate the choices that are in front of him and will make his decision as to what the next step will be.

“There are serious discussions taking place between us and our European allies as to what those next sanction steps ought to be and when they ought to be implemented.”

Mr Kerry said the most “egregious violation” of the ceasefire was the assault

on the city of Debaltseve on Wednesday and military supplies sent by Moscow to separatists

“If this failure continues, make no mistake, there will be further consequences, including consequences that will put added strains on Russia’s already troubled economy,” he said.

Mr Kerry, who was speaking after meetings with his British counterpart Philip Hammond in London, said Russia and the rebels were only

What is the profit in terminating life of anohther for reason that has no merit?

complying with the ceasefire accords in a few areas.

Pro-Russian separatists are building up forces and weapons in Ukraine’s south east and the Ukrainian military said it was braced for the possibility of a rebel attack on the port city of Mariupol.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Moscow was focused on supporting the ceasefire deal, according to TASS news agency.

-ABC news

Conflict has been rife in South Sudan since December 2013, when fighting erupted in capital Juba between soldiers allied to president Salva Kiir and those loyal to his former deputy, Riek Machar.

At least 10,000 people have been killed and 1.5 million internally displaced.

UNICEF said about 12,000 children have been recruited into armed groups since the outbreak of war.

-ABC news

Turkey evacuates soldiers from Syria

THE Turkish military launched an operation into Syria overnight to evacuate about 40 Turkish soldiers guarding the tomb of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, two senior Turkish officials said.

The mission, which involved 700 elite troops and 100 military vehicles, was successfully completed, but one soldier was killed in an accident during the operation, one of the officials said.

A statement released by the Turkish military said there had been no clashes with Islamic State, who the Turkish government said late last year were advancing on the area.

Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed on Twitter that the soldiers had been returned to Turkey.

He said the remains of Suleyman Shah would be moved to a different area in Syria which has been brought under Turkish army control.

-ABC news

THE Sunni Islamist militants have killed thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds in a six-year insurgency.

Picture: ABC/SUPPLIED

We have secured Baga ...

CHRIS OLUKOLADE Nigeria

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 2x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 6 inclusive

Solution to puzzle SL0857

stars

March 20 - April 19

By no means are you secretive. Yet you’ll often raise problems because you know how long the resulting discussions will take. Now, however, not only is there nothing of that nature to fear, you’ll be amazed how many issues you’re able to put to rest in an unbelievably short time.

April 20 - May 19

A few days ago your ruler Venus and the forthright Mars moved into the most sensitive and strategic portion of your chart. While, on one hand, this is calling attention to issues you’ve been hoping you could ignore, you’re finding them surprisingly easy to understand and, better yet, deal with.

May 21 - June 20

Everybody seems determined to get organised. You’re happy others are doing so. However, they’re including you. With your ruler Mercury still in the most expansive portion of your chart, life’s about exploration, not focusing on any one thing. Explain you’re interested in their pursuits but aren’t able to join in.

June 21 - July 21

There are two varieties of obstacles. Most need only be dealt with, nothing more. But those you’re currently facing are highlighting concerns about arrangements that once worked but no longer do or are simply not coming together. In every case, the question is whether they’re worth bothering with at all.

July 22 - August 22

While you’ve encouraged those closest, in your personal life or at work, to take the initiative, you’re worried they’ve overdone it. Your concern isn’t their decisions but their potential impact on your situation. Although events could prove unsettling, once the dust settles, you’ll be unexpectedly pleased how well things turned out.

August 23 - September 22

Easygoing as you are about most things, you can also be a control freak. However, with so many planets accenting partners, at work or at home, at the moment, they’re in charge and you’re not. Tempting as it is to give them advice, back off. They know what they’re doing.

September 23 - October 22

You think of yourself as easygoing. But judging by the current potent planetary focus on your opposite sign of Aries, those closest in both your personal or working life will be in charge of decisions. While often this will be a relief, in a few situations letting go will be surprisingly difficult.

October 23 - November 22

When you commit, you regard seeing things through to the end as a matter of honour. It makes no difference whether or not others know about it. Now, however, you’re urged to give serious thought to one particular matter. Once it made sense but it no longer does. Get out while you can.

November 23 - December 22

Usually good fortune is instantly recognisable. But that’s not always the case, and it would appear that either you won’t spot the promise of certain ideas or offers or, alternatively, you will but those closest won’t. Don’t brush off these issues. Talk them though now, so you can do so without urgency.

December 21 - January 19

Because you prepare for discussions and, therefore, ensure they cover everything, you rarely need to go back over details. However, not everybody is as thorough. While this hasn’t mattered much in the past, it will now. Knowing that, encourage others to gather the necessary facts and think things through beforehand.

January 20 - February 17

Although you’re undoubtedly still mulling over the insights that accompanied the recent Aquarius New Moon, there’s no urgency about turning them into plans. On the contrary, judging by the coming weeks’ powerful planetary activity, you’ll want to keep both your mind and your schedule as flexible as possible.

February 18 - March 19

For ages you’ve said nothing about the increasingly self-indulgent behaviour of one particular individual because you felt it was none of your business. But now that circumstances are changing, it is. While, obviously, this will require tact, it’s also essential that you explain your feelings, in detail, and as swiftly as possible.

crossword: 10853 fl ash gordon phantom redeye blondie hagar

Ipatas Cup Southern leg rugby league action in pictures

IPATAS Cup CEO Timothy Lepa poses with the Toks Mix Dogs.COMMITTED referees sharing a light moment at Laloki High School on Saturday.

M3 Bulldogs Peter Mond adds size to the Morata team

WAIGANI Iralais full-back Brandon Gotuno (with ball) is tackled by a Magani player at the Laloki High School oval on Saturday.

WAIGANI Iralais Ron Wek (7) on the attack against Magani.

WAIGANI Iralais Samuel Koim about to offload the ball in their clash with Magani. Iralais won 16-14

IPATAS Cup southern co-ordinator James Ngune and CEO Timothy Lepa watching the games at Laloki High School.

TOKS Mix Dogs play the ball.TOX Mix Dogs in action

Dwellers in moral boosting win

BY FRANCO NEBAS SOCCER

LAE –based franchise City Dwellers scraped through for a 1 –0 win over a spirited Besta United in the Telikom National Soccer League local derby clash at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium on Saturday.

The win has elevated the Dwellers to second place.

The Dwellers didn’t have it all their way as the PNG Football Association (PNGFA) development side pushed their senior counterparts to the limit.

The opening 45 minutes was in disarray with young mid-fielder Troy Gunemba not distributing the ball well to elder brother Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba in the front-line.

Both players were marked well by the Besta defense with skipper Otto Kusunan making sure the duo were given no room to stamp their authority on the game.

Despite the loss, Kusunan commended his boys for putting up a good fight.

“It s a good game, I must thanked my boys for putting up a good fight but we failed to hold them into the

TELIKOM

NATIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE

GOAL-SCORERS AFTER GAME 5

1. Nicholas Muri (Hekari) - 2

2. Papalau Awele (Besta) - 2

3. Emmnauel Simon (Hekari) - 2

4. Tommy Sammy (Hekari) - 1...

5. Alex Kamen (Besta) - 1

6. Brandon Ben (Besta) - 1

7. Patrick Aisa (Oro) - 1

8. Alwin Komolong (Madang) - 1

9. Rodney Mobiha (Admiralty) - 1

10. Andrew Marampau (FC POM) - 1

11. Neil Hans (FC POM) - 2

12. Nigel Dabinyaba (Lae City) - 2

13. Raymond Gunemba (Lae City) - 1

14. Jacob Sabua (Oro FC) - 1

15. Freddy Steven ( Besta) -1

16. Felix Bondaluk ( FC POM) -1

17. Gerard Lashel (Madang) - 1

18. Henry Ronny (Oro) - 1

19. Moses Arisib Oro) - 1

20. Gari Moka (Oro) - 1

21. Eliuda Pohei (Madang) - 2

22. Samuel Kini (Madang) - 1

23. John Kichani (Lae City) - 1

last quarter of the match where they capitalised to score the only goal,” he added.

Dwellers skipper Raymond Gunemba admitted that his boys were struggling especially in the midfield where there was poor distribution of the ball.

“We still need to polish up in our midfield department which let us down,” he said.

He said however the players came good in the second-half after a tongue lashing from coach Peter Nime.

Nime also admitted there was a break down in their midfield. However he said the boys did come back strong in the second half especially with flankers Obert Micka and match-winner John Kitchani who started from the bench.

Kini heightens Madang’s victory

BY JOE GURINA SOCCER

THE return of former Hekari star Samuel Kini powered Madang to register their first win in the Telikom National Soccer League at the Bomana Correctional Services Oval on Saturday.

Madang beat Oro 3-0 in the main game, while earlier champions Hekari United were held to another frustrating 0-0 draw by a determined FC POM.

Kini showed his class and didn’t miss a beat with his presence down the left-flank.

Despite a scoreless first-half, Madang stepped up a notch with effective changes by coach Moyap Francis to bring on Manus Provincial striker Eluida Pohei with great effectiveness early in the second-half.

With three minutes Pohei was dancing towards his bench with

the first goal, after preying on the weary Oro defence after collecting a Sammy Hiob cross to the penalty box.

While at the other end Oro coach Joe Turia should have replaced Gary Moka and Patrick Aisa as they were well marked and failed to provide that extra gusto in the final quarter.

Oro’s Kohu Liam showed some fight in middle with several shots, but was not enough to trouble

goal- keeper Leahan Manase.

Then when Kini surprised Oro goal-keeper Enoch Maliwolo from outside the 18-box with a screamer, the tide had turned and the match well and truly lost in the afternoon heat.

Pohei’s second goal from a Vincent Worrio cross rammed the nail in the coffin, much to the delight of Madang Governor Jim Kas, who gave his voice of approval.

Francis said his charges stuck to their game plan well and it paid dividends and just hoped they can continue the good form in the coming weeks.

LAE City Dwellers striker Raymond Gunemba is chased by Besta United players in NSL action at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae on Saturday. Picture by MARK TALIA

MADANG coach Moyap Francis giving instructions to Francis Patrick.

Iralais eye gold pass

Boxers head to the Gold Coast

BOXING

SEVEN members of the Papua New Guinea boxing squad have flown out to Queensland’s Gold Coast as part of their build-up for the July Pacific Games

They are amongst 16 pugilists that were selected in the PNG training squad from the national championships staged in Goroka last month.

The boxers are Philo Magaiva 51kg, Lui Magaiva 49kg, Charlie Igoma 52 kg, Andrew Aisaga 69kg, Jonathan Keoma 75kg, Tony Oaike 60kg and Christian Ikari 75kg.

The team spent the last four weeks training at the high performance training centre in Port Moresby.

The PNG boxing team will also be vying to take part in next year’s Olympic Games in Brazil, the Asia Games in Bangkok, Thailand and several others.

BSP launch kriket program

BY KILA NAO CRICKET

THE 2015 BSP school kriket program was launched with much excitement for the children at the June Valley Primary School in Port Moresby on Friday

BSP school kriket program is one of the leading junior sports development programs in Papua New Guinea.

BY JOE GURINA RUGBY LEAGUE

WAIGANI Iralais coach Andrew Andiki is confident his charges will get one gold pass to enter the next stage of the Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup.

Andiki was buoyed by his charges 16-14 win in the opening of the southern leg challenge over a strong Port Moresby Rugby League Magani outfit at the Laloki High School oval on Saturday.

The Iralais consisting of several prominent players including Port Moresby Vipers prop Samuel Koim made their presence felt for their hard

At a glance

COACH: Waigani Iralais coach Andrew Andiki.

IRALAIS: The Iralais consisting of several prominent players including Port Moresby Vipers prop Samuel Koim.

WIN: The Iralais won 16-14 in the opening of the southern leg challenge over a strong Port Moresby Rugby League Magani outfit.

OVAL: At the Laloki High School oval on Saturday.

fought win.

Andiki said this is their third stint in the competition and he feels that they can do better this time around.

It was a tight match with the Iralais managing to keep

their noses in from to lead 1210 at half-time.

But Magani came back with live-wire Gulf Isapea fiveeighth Joshua Thomas keeping the pressure on the latter with his deft kicks in general

play to maintain pressure.

However the Iralais were well in control with halves combination Tara Waiabi and vice Captain Ron Mek to ensure their forwards kept plug away through the middle and completing their sets.

Despite Magani coming back late, the Wigmen feeder club held on to win.

Andiki said it was good to get the first match out of the way as it does bring confidence to the players.

The Iralais try-scorers were winger Jordan Koi (2), fullback Brandon Gotuno and centre Ham Tina.

While for the wallaby’s

Doa are highlands champs

BY KILA NAO RUGBY UNION

HAGEN Doa are the Digicel Super 9s Highlands leg champions.

Doa beat Goroka Schoolboys

26-18 at the Rebiamul Oval in Mount Hagen yesterday.

Both Doa and Goroka Schoolboys will be represented at the Pacific Balanced Fund Super 9s from March 14-15 in Lae.

In the Plate final, Kondipine beat Hagen Sharks 20-10, while Kimil Coffee Raiders won the Bowl final.

PNGRFL Highlands Confederate development officer Gabriel Kiluwa was impressed with the level of football displayed.

“I enjoyed watching the Tari Development team as they displayed class football and with

better training could have gone further,” he added.

The Western Highland’s capital was flooded with players coming from as far as Progera, Tari Mendi and Goroka.

The shortened version of the game was a hit with the teams expressing satisfaction of the new concept.

Porgera Nuggets coach Jack Takon said that the 9s format enabled his players an opportunity to showcase their playing talent.

The Nuggets bowed out in the Bowl preliminary finals.

The Majority of teams in the Digicel Highlands leg fielded youthful teams who had the opportunity to take part as their senior players are currently engaged in the Ipatas and Jiwaka Cup tournaments.

front rower Jarrod Haoda, centre Hura Gairo and outside centre Auki Uru scored a try each.

Meanwhile southern leg coordinator James Ngune confirmed that the competition will continue this weekend from Friday to Sunday at the McGreggor Barracks and Laloki High School.

In other results, Magani 10 d Manase Lawyers Matiroko Chiefs 4, Bomai Yal 16 d M3 Bulldogs 0, Waigani Iralais 16 d 9-Mile Giants 10, Toks Mix Dogs 20 d Ensisi Carpets 0, Laigap Brothers 12 d Dep Eels 0, Kay Juniors 4 d GK Brothers 0.

The school kriket program is sponsored by BSP and managed by Cricket PNG (CPNG) with plans to reach 150,000 children this year.

CPNG Game development manager Gayan Loku attributed the success and growth of the junior cricket development to hard work, commitment and stability of the Cricket PNG Administration and the strong support from BSP. Loku said: “We will continue to strive to be the leading junior sports development program in PNG and also in the Region (EAP).

BSP commits more than K300, 000 as sponsorship package for the program and also provides K100, 000 for equipment.

WAIGANi Iralais centre Ham Tina (4) tries to fend off his Magani tackler at the Laloki High School on Saturday.

Madang victor y victory

entered MADANG have the race ng over Oro has Their 3-0 dousi at amongst ‘‘thrown the c thtfth

MADANG have finally entered Their 3-0 dousing over Oro has ‘‘thrown the cat amongst the pigeons’’ to raise the tempo of the Telikom National Soccer League. After five rounds, Madang’s first win was quality in every sense of the word.

The return of former international and Hekari United star Samuel ‘SK’ Kini for Madang proved to be a huge bonus for coach Moyap Francis and their supporters at Bomana on Saturday.

Kini nailed a scorcher from outside the 18-yard box to signal his return to the to top level, while super-sub Eluida Pohei added the icing on the cake with a double to prove his worth coming off

the bench. That joy would not be the same for eight time champs Hekari United who recorded another frustrating draw, despite having at least eight definite chances.

the bench. That would not be the same for time another draw, hitltihtdfiit

Hekari drew with FC Pom 0-0. Time is ticking away for Hekari coach Jerry Alan to break the drought as his strikers Jamal Seeto and Tommy Semmy have little to show for so far.

With the O-League around the corner in April…the pressure cooker is on for Alan to produce the goods. FC Pom finally showed some class for the stalemate.

While over in Lae, the Lae City Dwellers had to show who was the ‘big brother’ with their close 1-0 win over Besta United.

THE pressure is on for Hekari United coach Jerry Alan, as his charges

MADANG players (left) Alwin Komolong and Nigel Malagian (right) celebrate Eliuda Pohei’s (centre) goal after coming for just over three minutes to break the deadlock at the Bomana CS Oval on Saturday.