Post Courier, Tuesday March 10, 2015

Women’s forum can move nation

THEconference proceedings and the calibre of its presenters has to be one of the most comprehensive in recent years.

The Papua New Guinea Women’s Forum, organised by the US Embassy and the Department of Community Development and supported by various partners, is now into its second day at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby.

Yesterday, the country’s commitments to the various international treaties to strengthen women’s rights came under scrutiny. From the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the panellists discussed the various conventions and the progress (or the lack of it) that the local authorities were making to ensure that the country complied with its obligations. Girls’ access to education and the impact of free education in reducing the gap between boys and girls continues to be a challenge for us, hence the decision by the organisers to give it over an hour can only augur well for the issue and our strive to keep the issue in the public domain.

But it is the words of wisdom and encouragement from the conference’s special guest speakers – Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat secretary general Dame Meg Taylor and the US Coast Guard commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, Rear Admiral Cari Thomas – that became the talking point of yesterday’s conference. Here were two of the most powerful women in the region sharing their experiences and giving their insights to young Papua New Guinean women on how to navigate the unchartered waters that we now call PNG.

At the end of the day it is our commitment as Papua New Guinean men and women to drive those changes. The various international treaties that the country has signed only put in place the pathways to the overall success and empowerment of women. It is hoped that the MDGs, the Beijing Declaration and the CEDAW will help us get there. Giving girls more access to education will help break down some of those barriers that hold our female population back from giving their best. Pushing for reforms to the PNG public service to enable more women to take on leadership roles is also another booster.

Ironically, Papua New Guineans know what needs to be done to enable our womenfolk play a significant role in developing this nation. The gender debate has over the last 15-20 years been a topical issue within the corridors of the National Parliament and in the bureaucracy with champions like former Moresby South MP Dame Carol Kidu and other women leaders and NGOs, often becoming the lone voices in the desert.

The three-day conference offers the chance for Papua New Guineans from all walks of life to join hands and to make a concerted effort to give our girls and women the recognition that they deserve as equal partners in development. It is a journey that not only they but we can and must take together if this country is to fully harness the potential of its 7.8 million people. We look forward to the outcomes of the conference and acknowledging the roles that each and every one of us can play in nation building.

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Group to meet soon on death penalty

BY TODAGIA KELOLA

WHILE the two Bali Nine ring leaders on death row make a last-ditch attempt to halt a looming execution, Papua New Guinea’s own inter-agency implementing committee on death row would meet in coming days to discuss the way forward in implementing this law.

Co-chairperson of the committee and Correctional Services Commissioner Michael Waipo revealed this to the Post-Courier yesterday.

The committee is adamant that the 13 prisoners on death row would be execut-

ed this year but the method of execution has not been decided.

Indonesia, which prefers the firing squad, and Thailand had offered to help PNG set up its death penalty mechanisms.

The inter-agency implementing committee, cochaired with the Secretary for Justice and Attorney General Lawrence Kalinoe, would discuss the mechanisms of the death penalty law, which has been passed by Parliament but yet to be effected.

Mr Waipo said at this stage he could not say much, adding that he would be in a

better position to comment after the committee meeting.

Meanwhile, the two Australians facing imminent execution in Indonesia on drug smuggling charges, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, have made a last ditch effort to halt their execution.

According to ABC News, their lawyers had lodged an appeal against Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo’s refusal to grant them clemency.

“The next hearing on Thursday will be the response from the president’s team about our chal-

lenge,” one of their lawyers, Doly James, told AFP news agency. “The reason for the rejection of clemency was unclear, when we had been very clear why these two deserved clemency,” he said.

Indonesian authorities last week moved the pair from Bali to the prison island of Nusakambangan, indicating that they would soon be executed.

They are among a group of drug convicts, including foreigners from France, Brazil, the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana, who are expected to be executed at the same time on the island.

Cabinet expected to discuss disasters

FROM PAGE 1

THE National Executive Council is expected to meet his week to discuss a number of actions, including funding, to address the situation throughout the country.

Last week Prime Minister Peter O’Neill personally flew into some of the hardest hit areas of Southern

Highlands, Western Highlands and Jiwaka to see for himself damages caused by heavy rains.

West New Britain is the latest province to have been hard-hit as heavy rain continued to cause havoc and destruction throughout the country, especially the Highlands Provinces in the past two week.

Mr Muthuvel sent the SOS

message to Mr O’Neill for the NEC to declare a state of emergency in the province to rebuild roads and bridges.

He said roads and bridges had been washed away in heavy flooding and people were literally living above water.

He said roads had been cutoff, flights were cancelled and water was everywhere.

“It warrants a state-ofemergency and needs immediate support from our disaster agencies and army to fix the bridges and save the road infrastructure.”

“I am not exaggerating. I am on the ground and physically seeing it, as I type this message, I couldn’t sleep, due to very scary and noisy, non-stop rain, it’s a nightmare,” he said.

STUDENTS CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

HEAVY rain in

yesterday didn’t

Dame Meg tells of achievements, goals

BY GORETHY KENNETH

DAME Meg Taylor yesterday recapped her childhood memories sharing her incredible journey from growing up on one of the first coffee plantations in Goroka to being the first woman to head up Pacific Islands Forum.

She has over 20 years of experience working in the region and internationally, including serving as vicepresident and compliance adviser ombudsman with the World Bank Group and as PNG’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Prior to this, she practised law in PNG, served as a member of the Law Reform Commission, served on the boards of several companies and both national and

The bottom line

At a glance

DAME MEG TAYLOR: From growing up on one of the first coffee plantations in Goroka to heading the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor shares her accomplishements and her plans for the rest of her tenure as Secretary General for PIF.

international conservation organisations, and worked as private secretary to Sir Michael Somare through both self-government and independence.

Dame Meg, now the secretary general of PIF – the inter-governmental organisation that aims to enhance cooperation between Pacific island nations – said she

inherited a very challenging institution amid a complex political situation. She told of how hard it was for her politically, as a woman to be heading the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat based in Fiji when Fiji had still not agreed to join PIF.

She spoke of how she walked into a complex political situation with the host country but was determined to achieve and implement set goals in the three years she will head PIF.

Dame Meg Taylor also spoke of how she wanted to see development in the Pacific being dictated more by Pacific people’s interest and said that PIF under her leadership would push for high political and economic agencies.

She wanted to see Pacific leaders drive forward development agendas in the Pacific and assured that she would push for a greater consultation, prioritising high economic and political agenda in the Pacific Islands Leaders forum in September this year in Port Moresby, as she singled out that the Pacific region had been dictated for too long by donor partners and development agenda. She also gave a mentoring advice to women departmental heads and upcoming women leaders to always look ahead, be hungry to learn, and seek out connections to achieve results as PNG had more work to do in terms of addressing women issues of violence, access of education and health services.

DON’T CARE

SOME men don’t seem to care about the celebration of International Women’s Day in PNG. One of them, an engineer with a global petroleum company, assaulted his wife in Port Moresby over the weekend.

POOR JOB

THE heavy downpour in the national capital yesterday saw some city schools close their doors and the children sent home. They are paying the price for poor workmanship on their classrooms by contractors.

FLOODS

NOT sure about the timing of a local chamber email selling holiday packages in West New Britain. Folks in the oil palm province are crying out for help from flooding triggered by days of continuous rain.

P PLATE

A HULKING Fijian was flagged down recently on an NCD road by a young Road Safety Council officer. The officer said he noticed the car had a P Plate and asked for the driver’s age and license!

WRONG ID

A CLOSER look at the driver was enough to compel the querying officer to scurry

away! The young chap probably noticed the driver was built like Willie Mason and old enough to be his father.

OUTSTANDING

THE Drum on the financial woes of the University of PNG caught the eye of a former student. She was a HECAS student in 2011 and is yet to be reimbursed K3000 by the UPNG.

CHECK LATER

THE university administration has been telling her to “check later” as they don’t have funds to reimburse her. If they are struggling to settle that paltry amount then it could be the tip of the iceberg.

TOLUKUMA WILL the Government hold the Tolukuma gold mine board responsible for its demise? Close to five years of losses doesn’t make good reading for the board members’ track record.

SEE DOUBLE

DOES the UN have double standards? Some locals are shocked the UN rapporteur on human rights overlooked the West Papua genocide to slam PNG/Oz over the Manus asylum seekers centre.

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

In 1964, an Australian man successfully posted himself in a crate from London to Perth via air freight, which took a total of three days.

OKAY we know it is only Round 1 in the QRL Intrust Super Cup but every victory by the PNG Hunters is special! The Hunters are top of the table after the first week, good job fellas!

NAMBAWAN

Port Moresby all day

stop these students from going to school – only for most of them to be sent back home. These students from Wardstrip Primary School were sent home because of the rain.

Kase: Food safety crucial

BY NELLIE SETEPANO

PEOPLE are exposed to a wide range of potential food quality and safety risk, says Health Secretary Pascoe Kase.

Mr Kase said food safety system was not as well organised and developed as in industrial countries.

Moreover, problems of growing population, urbanisation, lack of resources to deal with pre and post harvest losses in food, and problems of environment and food hygiene meant that food systems continued to be stressed, adversely affecting quality and safety of food supplies.

Mr Kase said in a recent meeting attended by officials representing food safety regulatory agencies, standard agencies, fisheries agencies and food experts from private sectors when he called for collaborated efforts from to ensure that food arriving at meals was safe.

Food safety is an assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and or eaten according to its intended use.

“Today, the supply chain from manufacturer to consumer involves a complex web of re-packagers and redistributors that makes oversight by many agencies - much less one agency is extremely difficult,”

At a glance

MR KASE: People are exposed to a wide range of potential food quality and safety risk, says Health Secretary Pascoe Kase.

FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM: Mr Kase said food safety system was not as well organised and developed as in industrial countries.

MEETING: Mr Kase said in a recent meeting attended by officials representing food safety regulatory agencies, standard agencies, fisheries agencies and food experts from private sectors he said that he called for collaborated efforts to ensure that food arriving at meals was safe.

Mr Kase said. He said due to the challenges food expects and regulators desperately need to work together to address best practices and food safety standards for promoting and managing food safety and to plot a course for the future.

Addressing food safety is also crucial for the most vulnerable populations who are at particularly high risk for food borne diseases, and many suffer disproportionately from productivity losses associated with food borne illness.

Teacher wins public speaking contest

A 21-YEAR-OLD preschool teacher, Rose Lakoro Pitoi, was announced as the winner of the PNG Soroptimist International’s (SI) public speaking competition yesterday in Lae.

Ms Pitoi said the competition gave her the opportunity to address issues relating to women on both the national and

international scale.

“I’m pleased to have won the competition and I hope to give my best in addressing gender issues in the upcoming Soroptimist International South West Pacific Conference in Sydney,” Ms Pitoi said.

“There are a number of issues that will be

addressed but I will be focusing more on gender base violence or the expansion of opportunity for women to take up leadership roles,” she added.

According to Ms Pitoi, many women around the world and in PNG continue to face oppression from their male counterparts, and the soci-

ety in general. However, she noted that oppression and discrimination are the factors that drive women to become stronger and tactful in handling far greater responsibilities.

Ms Pitoi dedicated her win to God as He is the one person who gives humans strength and the courage to face life.

Leaders call on EHP govt to establish high school

BY MICHAEL KOMA

THE Eastern Highlands education division has converted three primary schools into high schools in a bid to absorb the high number of Grade 9 students.

The newly-converted high schools are Pintaka and Tarabo in the remote Okapa district and Mt Michael Day High School in Lufa district.

Provincial education director Robert Kokao said many Grade 9 students had been sent home in the past years due to lack of space at the existing Okapa and Lufa Secondary Schools.

Mr Kokao said staff structure was submitted to the Teaching Service Commission for approval so that the 36 teachers appointed to teach in these schools were paid.

There was confusion surrounding the elementary sector in the province as classes had not begun for the 2015 school year.

The chaotic situation developed as elementary teachers were instructed to teach the newly-modified Standard Based Education (instead of the Outcome Based Education) beginning this year.

Prior to teaching the SBE

they (teachers) need to be trained on the subject and this has yet to happen. Funds for cluster workshop are yet to be released by the Education Department.

Mr Kokao has urged Elementary Teachers to return to their respective schools and continue teaching the OBE until such time they are trained on the SBE. Meanwhile, tribal leaders in the Daulo district had

called upon the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, the Provincial Education Division and the local MP Ron Ganarofo to establish a high school in the district.

Daulo is the only district in the highlands that does not have a high school.

Grade 9s from Daulo, which comprises Asaro and Watabung areas, are sent to Asaroka and Mesauka high

schools in neighbouring Goroka district.

Teachers spend an average 5 hours per day on instruction, both in class and providing tutoring or extra academic support.

FROM left to right – Winner of the PNGSI Public Speaking Competition Rose Lakoro Pitoi and runner-up Georgia Manoa

Many grade 9 students had been sent home in the past

ROBERT KOKAO Goroka

UN rep: Change lies with individuals

THE UNITED Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving gender equality, but Papua New Guineans are reminded that the responsibility and opportunity for the biggest change lies with each individual.

During his opening address at the Papua New Guinea Women’s Forum in Port Moresby, the UN resident coordinator in PNG Roy Trivedy highlighted the need for every citizen to strive for improvements in equality.

“The responsibility sits with every one of us, in every part of our life. Through mentoring, coaching, supporting and creating opportunities, all of us can contribute to strengthening women’s empowerment and leadership,” Mr Trivedy said.

The Women’s Forum, which coincides with Sunday’s International Women’s Day, this year, focuses on the theme “Stronger Together: Partnering for Equality for Women” – a theme which Mr Trivedy said was particularly relevant.

“We know that no single institution, discipline or group can achieve equality for women in society. We have to work together –women and men, boys and girls – to achieve the changes that we all want to see.”

“We also have to work at different levels to achieve gender equality – with families, communities, at local, provincial, national, regional and international levels.”

First celebrated back in 1911, International Women’s Day is a reminder that while some of the challenges faced by women have changed over time, the need for commitment and action has not.

“International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity for people globally to come together to celebrate and promote the achievements of women, in every sphere of life, and to re-confirm our commitment to empower women and girls,” Mr Trivedy said. He said this year marks the final year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The bottom line

Women’s forum begins in Moresby

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE 2015 Papua New Guinea (PNG) Women’s Forum kicked off on a high note in Port Moresby yesterday, attended by more than 500 participants.

The forum, co hosted by the United States Embassy in Port Moresby and the PNG Government has also seen women from all over PNG and the world converged at Crowne Plaza for the threeday conference starting yesterday.

Peace walk marks Women’s Day

MORE than 200 people in Port Moresby took part in a Peace Walk as part of the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations.

The IWD falls on March 8 every year and the walk was to celebrate the advancement of women and girls in Papua New Guinea and was organised by the Soroptomist International Club of Port Moresby, a not-for-profit organisation.

Participants included children. The walk begun at IEA Ela Beach sports oval, went up the hill at Lawes Road, down to Konedobu and then to town before ending at IEA sports oval.

The five-kilometre walk

International

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Was first celebrated back in 1911 and falls on March 8 every year. It is a reminder that while some of the challenges faced by women have changed over time, the need for commitment has not.

PEACE WALK: Organised by Soroptomist International Club of Port Moresby begun at IEA Ela Beach Sports oval, up Lawes Road, down to Konedobu and ended back at IEA sports oval. The five-kilometer walk began at 6.45 am and ended at 7.45 am.

started at 6.45am and ended at 7.45am.

Following the walk, SIPOM supporters provided BBQ and drinks for participants.

Guest speakers on the day were the UN resident representative Roy Trivedy and US ambassador Walter

North, who both spoke on the many challenges facing women and girls as well as the progress they have made.

The president of SIPOM Seema Dass-Raju, through her working committee, organised this event

to coincide with the IWD. Visitors and participants came from organisations such as the United Nations, WHO, American Embassy, Australian and PNG Defence Forces, Women on the Move, mothers from Safe City Safe Market at Gordon, female employees of Esco Limited, Deevon Events and Multimedia Productions and many other supporters of SIPOM and others who wanted to celebrate IWD.

The event was made possible through generous donations from business houses and individuals and SIPOM say they look forward to hosting another IWD event in 2016.

Secretary General for the Pacific Island Forum, Dame Meg Taylor was the guest speaker with Rear Admiral Cari Thomas, one of the highest ranking officers in the US Coast Guard, who told the inspiring story of how she made it to the top in a male-dominated profession and shared her strategies for overcoming gender barriers. Tertiary institutions representatives from all over PNG are also part of this session. Linda Babao, wife of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso, Internal Revenue Commission boss Betty Palaso, Community Development Secretary Anna Solomon and her team and women leaders from the provinces were in town for the three-day conference.

Education Minister Nick Kuman and Secretary Michael Tapo were also at the forum to present education issues on the topic decreasing barriers to education for girls.

US ambassador Walter North welcomed all participants yesterday, congratulating each and every one of them for making it to the forum.

This year’s Forum is focused on advancing gender justice and economic opportunity for women.

There will also be a seminar on best practices in business management that will give PNG business women and NGO leaders tips and tools to be more successful in their work.

Women’s Day was first celebrated back in 1911.

SECRETARY General for the Pacifi c Islands Forum Meg Taylor (second right) surrounded by women who attended the first day of the women’s forum in Port Moresby.

United Church observes silver jubilee

GEREHU United Church

elders and congregation have sacrificed time and effort to raise funds over the past 25 years.

Last Sunday the church celebrated its silver jubilee and recapped the hardship and sacrifices the congregation faced to raise money to build the church.

The highlight of the celebrations was the gathering of all groups from all over the city and Central Province that reside in the Gerehu suburb.

They invited leaders from both the private and public sector to donate towards extending the church and increasing most of their operations and services.

The church was so thankful to be told that a cheque for K10,000 would be coming from Moresby Northwest MP Michael Malabag.

Ganaii deflects K1.2m hospital toilet deal

EAST Sepik provincial administrator, Otto Ganai, gave his side of the story yesterday on the alleged misuse of K1.2 million by a contractor earmarked for Wewak General Hospital.

Mr Ganai, in a statement, said his administration and team were not, in any manner at all, involved in the contractor procurement process.

He said these were responsibilities of the national Government through the Boram hospital board and its administration chair-

Agency clarifies project hurdles

THE Trade and Commerce Department yesterday clarified issues surrounding the lucrative K50 million Sepik Plains project in Yangoru-Saussia electorate of East Sepik Province.

Trade and Commerce Secretary John Andrias said the project was enormous and required administrative presence and political intervention from stakeholders.

“My department is receiving bad publicity through irresponsible reporting,” Mr Andrias said.

“It is therefore necessary that we provide factual information to the people of Papua New Guinea on the status of these projects implemented in compliance with required processes and law.

“One major challenge is the complexity of land tenure system and the enormity of the task of mobilising 82,000 hectares of customary land to supplement 18,000 hectares of State land.

man, Allan Bird, to comment on.

“Richard Maru’s outburst with the allegation of theft or misappropriation of K1.2 million for the Wewak General Hospital, resonated by that of hospital board chairman Allan Bird, is misdirected, to say the least,” Mr Ganaii said.

He said works on Wewak General Hospital claimed by Mr Maru to be bogus, was in fact awarded by the hospital board works committee chaired by a board member, Mr Krufer, on or

about February 5, 2014.

“I understand a tender was advertised locally and five bidders tendered for the works. Of the five bidders, a Pins Construction Limited was awarded the contract.

“My administration and I were not involved in the contractor procurement process.

“As section 32 officer under the Public Finance (Management) Act, I simply facilitated the payment for the contract price as committed by the hospital board, provided that the funds were

available for that particular purpose,” Mr Ganaii said. He noted that K2 million had been given by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on a provincial visit for some repairs and maintenance to Boram.

These funds were deposited in the hospital infrastructure expenditure trust account, Mr Ganaii said.

“I exercised my financial powers as the province’s section 32 officer, which I was entitled to do, upon satisfaction by relevant documents supporting the claims

for payment.

“The works itself was not under my direct administrative supervision and authority.

“On satisfaction by sighting the contract document and certificate of completion, dated October 11, 2014, I approved payments for these works,including cheque No.169729 for K304,124.40 on December 10, 2014, for the maternity ward; and cheque No.169818 for K723,174.65 on December 23, 2014, for the toilet blocks of the hospital.

“We also have a court case in place from opposing factions and many other challenges that require our presence at the project site and regular meetings with landowners, hence, we have established a project office in Wewak staffed by technocrats on a full-time basis.

“Despite challenges faced, we are working to ensure the entire key infrastructure is in place before our choice of investor and the national Government can jointly develop the 100,000 hectares mega Sepik Plains oil palm project.

HEALTH Minister Michael Malabag with Gerehu United Church elders.

ACT OF LOVE

Politics hinder service

BY GRACE SALMANG

LIBRARY shelves in remote parts of West Sepik Province are empty and without proper books because of political interference in the delivery of educational supplies as well as medical supplies, says a Rotarian.

Karo Haltmeier, who is the international director of the Rotary Club of Kenthurst in Sydney, told the Post-Courier yesterday that they could not deliver containers containing medical and education sup-

Unitech, DWU sign agreement

TWO universities will share resources and physical infrastructure to achieve the Government’s call for quality of higher education and more access to higher education.

Divine Word University and the University o f Technology on March 2 signed a memorandum of agreement at the Madang campus of DWU for this to happen. The purpose of the agreement is to enhance the quality of education at both universities, collaborate in exchange research activities, exchange of students and staff.

This will be done through teaching and learning collaboration, combined supervision of postgraduate students, joint research projects and training in enhancing quality of ICT infrastructure, and professional skills development.

Politics interfering with the delivery of educational supplies

plies for Green River and Amanam districts of West Sepik because of this.

She said the supplies were Rotary’s to help and serve the remote people, and had nothing to do with West

Sepik politics and politicians.

“I want to make it known to the people that Rotary has nothing to do with politics, Rotary is here to help and serve the people,” Ms Haltmeier said.

“In 2012 and 2013, we delivered two containers of medical and education supplies to Papua New Guinea as part of the project in the Pacific in delivering hospital supplies and books, stationeries, computers.

“These were specifically to the Vanimo General

Hospital and remote schools. In 2013, a second container was brought with supplies however, to this date these containers are not delivered yet,” she said.

“We manage to get the books, computers and stationeries to Green River where the Education Department chartered two flights however, after two years the pile of books which were supposed to be delivered to Amanam have not been delivered.

Ms Haltmeier said according to her colleague based

Computerised system to speed up insurance claims

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

EMPLOYEES who have lodged claims for compensation for work-related injuries can now expect them to be processed quicker after the launch of a computerised claims processing payment system (CPPS) on Friday.

The computerised CPPS would enable the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWC) under the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations to ensure claims were effectively processed in

a timely manner and that all records were kept in order.

As well as launching the CPPS, OWC also launched its website which provides information on what the organisation does, its vision and mission; it also allows claims for work-related accidents to be lodged online and employers to register online too.

“CPPS will provide injured workers and dependents of the deceased workers the opportunity to lodge their claims for workers compen-

sation more efficiently and within minimum time,” said George Vaso, the acting Secretary of Labour and Industrial Relations.

“The system will enable injured workers and dependents of deceased workers to lodge workers’ compensation claims for injuries and death sustained at the workplace online.

“Employers can register with CPPS online and check the status of their employees’ claims.” Employers who do not have access to internet

services were encouraged to visit the OWC’s customer service centre for assistance. Mr Vaso said rural workers can collect the required information through their employers or they can visit the OWC’s provincial offices or provincial labour offices for assistance with the system.“The monitoring activity is enhanced for compliance with compulsory workers compensation insurance policy and penalise defaulters,” he said.

PNG delegation to attend UN session

A DELEGATION from the PNG Public Service has been invited to UN Headquarters in New York to visit 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and present innovative approaches to addressing gender-based violence during the dedicated side event.

Papua New Guinea is among two other countries - Guatemala and Argentina –

whose work on gender based violence has been selected as an innovative intervention. The examples of this work include new SMS-alert system for violence victims and GBV service database system.

The new SMS-alert system will connect human rights defenders from the communities to Family Sexual Violence Action Committee

Secretariats in the provinces. Through free of charge SMS-system human rights defenders will be able to send requests for urgent assistance. The secretariats will be available 24/7, and will be responsible to providing appropriate support to the victims.

The GBV service database will allow to collect reported cases and help to identify

existing bottlenecks, monitor the response rates and provide insights to the extent of support needed for further planning.

Both interventions are introduced by joint initiative of the Government of Papua New Guinea and UNDP.

The delgation will be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Personnel Management.

in Vanimo, Emmanuel Peni, councillors of the Amanam LLG area had insisted that such charity donations were for political support.

“The council of the Amanam LLG area is stopping us from delivering such supplies to the schools which need books, stationeries and educational materials,” she said.

Ms Haltmeier said school libraries were empty, the schools in Vanimo town have empty libraries, and for rural schools there was hardly any library.

DWU president Fr Jan Czuba and vice-chancellor of Unitech Dr Albert Schram signed the agreement, which was witnessed by Dr Subramaniyam Gopalakrishnan of Unitech and Vice President academic Professor Pamela Norman of DWU.

“While it is important to increase access to higher education however at the same time,” Fr Czuba said “It is important not to compromise the quality of research, learning and teaching at both universities.” He said through the sharing of resources and infrastructure the universities would be able to enroll more students.

MAMA Lucy from Good Samaritan Natural Disaster Volunteers (GSNDV) presenting a Teddy Bear to a sick baby and her mother in the mountains of Rotokas, Wakunai district of Central Bougainville. While the world is celebrating the International Women’s Day many mothers and children are still suffering in the remote areas of Bougainville. Picture: JACOB IENU

KARO HALTMEIER Port Moresby

Govt should provide avenue for businessmen

BY ROMULUS MASIU

THE Government should return vacant land blocks in Arawa for businesses to expand, says a leading businessman in the former Bougainville Copper Limited township.

Chris Damana, who operates a hardware in town and engages in cocoa buying, said people could not do much businesses as they had little space to operate from, while most blocks were being taken up by landowners and the Government.

Mr Damana, who is also the chairman of the Central Bougainville SME, said that while encouraging all business houses to abide by the law and regulations in paying taxes, the Government was not providing the avenue for the business people to invest.

He encouraged the business community to invest their hard-earned money with reputable companies and to strike partnership deals for all to benefit in a win-win situation.

“At the moment there’s no support from the Government to help out the local business people on Bougainville. There’s no local bank and the only commercial bank is not helpful,” Mr Damana said.

He added that local business people should not just bank their money at commercial banks but must invest in organisations or buy shares which were more profitable and reliable.

Parkop application dismissed

BY JACOB POK

A BID by NCD Governor Powes Parkop to dismiss an election petition review application was dismissed by the Supreme Court last Friday.

Mr Parkop filed the application to seek the courts directions to approve the form of the application, he filed objecting to the competency of the application for an election petition review instituted by petitioner Michael Kandiu, who was the runner-up in the NCD Regional Seat in 2012

At a glance

BID: A bid by NCD Governor Powes Parkop to dismiss an election petition review application was dismissed by the Supreme Court last Friday.

MR PARKOP: He filed the application to seek the courts directions to approve the form of the application, he filed objecting to the competency of the application for an election petition review instituted by petitioner Michael Kandiu.

national elections.

Mr Parkop argued in court that the rules do not provide for the procedure or form for an objection to competency of a review applica-

tion. His lawyer based his agrument on a case law of Dawa Lucas Dekena vs Nick Kopia Kuman in a Supreme Court case of 2013, submitting the proposition that an

objection to competency of a review application may be raised by a party on application filed.

However the court, while referring to Order 5 Rule 36 of the Supreme Court rules, disagreed with the submission of Mr Parkop.

The court explained that order 5 rule 36 of the Supreme Court rules gives the court the power to hear any objection to the competency of the review application at the hearing of the application.

The court explained that Mr Parkop should have

adopted and adapted form 9 of the court rules and followed the practice and procedure set out under order 7 division 5.

With those reasons, the court found the application filed by Mr Parkop on June 3, 2014 to be incompetent.

The court therefore dismissed Mr Parkop’s application and ordered that the application for review filed by Mr Kandiu shall proceed to hearing.

The matter was adjourned back to the registry for future hearing.

Court officials get training

ONE way to improve law and order in a society is to improve the law and order system and induct skilled officials into the system, as is the case in Morobe Province.

Morobe village court officials have sharpened their skills under accredited trainers, helping to ensure fair, impartial

and consistent delivery of justice throughout the Province. About 60 court officials comprising of magistrates, peace officers and village court clerks from the Lakukatop village, middle Mumeng, Wigo, Dambi areas attended the training with the aim to improve justice in Morobe Province.

The first course in Morobe covering the Village Court Act was undertaken by officials in Bulolo last week.

The instructors were trained in an IPA-accredited training program, delivered by PNGAustralia law and justice partnership – transition program and funded by Australia.

Wartoto demands audit reports

EAST New Britain Development Corporation, a business arm of the provincial government, has not been disclosing any audited financial reports for the past six years.

The corporation is a successful business arm of East New Britain provincial government.

It has subsidiary businesses involved in property investments, stevedoring, transport and shipping operations and agribusiness in copra, cocoa, coffee, plantation operations and building and constructions.

The Tolai business community and members of the Mataungan Association had called on Governor Ereman ToBaining Jr and Regional MP Leo Dion to tell the people of East New Britain about the corporation’s finances. Businessman Eremas Wartoto, speaking on behalf of the Mataungan Association, said the business community of East New Britain would like to know why the corporation had not been providing audited financial reports over the years.

Mr Wartoto challenged the leaders to give a full financial report on the company’s position.

PETITIONER Michael Kandiu (centre) with his lawyer Wass Korowi (right in gown) addressing supporters after the court hearing last Friday.

Leader queries city land development

A PUBLIC recreational ground in Gerehu, Moresby Northwest, has been fenced off by people who claim they are the new owners.

A community leader, who did not want to be named, said yesterday the fencing was illegal and his fellow community leaders had been calling on National Capital District Commission and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop to explain but to no avail.

He had given copies of the pictures he took of the newly fenced area to the PostCourier.

According to him, the field had been illegally subdivided by Lands and Physical Planning Department and sold to the people who fenced it.

“This evil activity of grabbing land through crooked deals has been executed in other suburbs or zones of PNG and now touching Gerehu field,’’ he said.

He added that members of the community have chased the people away sometimes last year and beginning of this year, but they came back again with a big number of people to stop the community from doing anything and went ahead and put a fence within the field.

“This is a community field and how comes the Lands Department went ahead and subdivided the land and put it for sale to people who have no respect for the community. We are now calling on Mr Parkop and the Lands Minister Benny Allen to intervene and revoke this illegal subdivision of the land.”

Courts yet to execute 5000 bench warrants

BY JACOB POK

THE high courts have more than 5000 bench warrants still outstanding since 1983, according to Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.

Sir Salamo said the bench warrants issued by the courts for the arrest of accused persons have not been implemented or executed by prosecutors assisting the courts in criminal matters.

“This represents about 70 per cent of the National Courts criminal case workload.

It is the duty of the prosecutors to assist in executing theses offenders and bring them to justice,” Sir Salamo said, while emphasising on

Financiers shun land titles

BY DONALD WILLIE

BANKS and other financial institutions do not trust the titles issued by Lands and Physical Planning Department.

Outgoing director of the National Research Institute, Thomas Webster said this when asked about his views of the department.

He said the department was a mess and that the Government seriously needed to immediately address this issue.

“It’s one of the concerns we have talked about and the Government needs to sort out the Lands Department and the way it administers the records to restore value in the titles it issues to the holders,” Dr Webster said.

“At the moment, the banks don’t trust the land titles coming out from the department.”

He said the reason for the loss of value in the titles was due to a title over a portion of land held by more than one holder.

“We need to strengthen the administrative system,” Dr Webster said.

He attributed another contributing factor to the government’s ignorance of the recommendations in researches the NRI had been conducting in relation to land issues, especially in the nation’s capital.

He said the capital has been planned poorly in terms of zoning, which has in time caused havoc in the areas of transportation.

LAW OFFICERS: Magistrates, judges and lawyers are law officers who work together to resolve disputes amicably.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: The Administration of Justice comprises the courts, the Attorney-General office, the Public Prosecutors Office and the Solicitor-General Office.

KEY LAW ENFORCERS: Police and Correctional Service tirelessly enforce the law on a daily basis.

the need for the courts and lawyers to conduct cases with due despatch and efficiency during the admission of 112 new lawyers last Friday.

Sir Salamo stressed that lawyers often failed to assist the court in executing court orders.

Defence lawyers should also assist prosecution to bring in their clients to the court to be dealt with,” Sir Salamo said.

“Cases are not presented and argued fully, thereby making judges to conduct their own research on the law and cases and in the process

delay judgement,” Sir Salamo added.

He said many cases are also adjourned because lawyers do not bring their standard text books on the subject matter of law.

“Bring the rules of court, copies of the applicable legislation and case law and the standard text books on the subject matter of law,” Sir Salamo said.

He highlighted the need for lawyers to always be well prepared and be on time when attending to cases.

He challenged young lawyers to demonstrate the ability to assist the courts to conduct cases with due despatch and efficiency.

Paper landowners urged to stay away

BY JEFFREY ELAPA

THE people of Porgera in Enga Province are calling on people with vested interest to stop misleading them as they have suffered enough from the effects of the mine.

Speaking during a peaceful protest in Porgera last week, the landowners, who have been affected by the operations of the Porgera gold mine, said they did not want to see any more paper landowners and organisations claiming to represent them on issues relating to environmental damage and other landowner concerns.

The people staged the protest march last week after learning of a group led by some paper landowners based in Port Moresby to pursue their concern by instituting an investigation team into environmental damage.

The landowners claimed that the team, led by Jonathan Paraia, was trying to mislead the people by going out on the media with the intention to conduct new environmental study.

The landowners, led by Porgera Landowners Association chairman, Tony Mark Ekepa, said several independent research organisations had conducted studies on several occasions and that there was no need to conduct another investigation by an unauthorised body purporting to represent them.

The organisations he iden-

tified included University of Technology in Lae, Colombia University, Harvard University, Human Rights Canada and others.

Mr Ekepa said the only body duly recognised to act on their behalf was the Porgera Landowners Association.

He said paper landowners had cheated the genuine landowners for the past 25 years and they did not want to be cheated again as all landowners’ issues had been pursued by the association.

He said any organisation wanting to help them should work with the association.

CHILDREN looking for something to play with on part of the community field at Gerehu.

We don’t need another study on environmental damage ...

TONY MARK EKEPA Porgera

NO ORIGINALITY

I was watching Vocal Fusion on the night of March 8 and have to say that this show is a joke.

I raise the following points also with reference to last year’s event: The judges seem to lack descript ive criticism.

The judges seem to be stating the same opinion but in different words.

The show lacks originality

W hy can’t the show engage local musicians to coach and guest-judge participants? Why can’t the show encourage participants to sing local songs? We the viewers need originality as well as honest judging.

Viewers Judge

BUAI FILTH IS BACK

I refer to your quick thought “rubbish at vision city” by Nick Tyson (PC 09/03/15). The illegal sale of betelnut all over the city has increased since the NCDC Police reserved unit got disbanded. Try come around TST Four-Mile and see how it’s like.

The shop front and its doorway entrance is like a pig’s sty with betelnut spittle everywhere while there is nowhere to walk as betelnut sellers are lining up everywhere.

Further down opposite the Boroko police station, people can be seen selling betelnut freely. Where are the enforcers of the betelnut ban?

The Paci fi c Games are nearing and some places like TST Four-Mile are getting really fi lthy.

Regular Customer via email

THANKS PM

From the silent majority of people f rom the Kagua-Erave electorate, we are humbled by your visit on March 5 with your delegation. Your presence touched thousands that welcomed you. We anticipate a brighter f uture with your leadership.

God bless you and your high of fi ce.

Thomas Mura Mungaro Village, 7 Kona SHP.

Post PNG is proficient

PLEASE allow me to do justice to a comment carried by your paper on March 2, 2015 in the Yu Tok column. The comment made by a Philip Taudevin was titledAvoid Post PNG - in effect urging our readers to avoid using the services of Post PNG Ltd.

While much is left to be desired in Taudevin’s assertion, there is one particular line in that story where Taudevin says Post PNG is unable to deliver both locally and overseas with regard to his claim on the company mishandling the courier of his magazines from subscriptions in the UK. For the benefit of our readers Post PNG tried to verify this claim and took time to cross check all inbound consignments including subscriptions going back to the

last 18 months- the time Taudevin claimed to have placed the orders. And not surprisingly that there is no record of any business with Taudevin except for a consignment containing machine parts lodged in Australia by Australia Post that never reached PNG shores. Following established process Post PNG then advised Taudevin to lay a claim with AUST Post if he wishes to take it further as the sending port is liable as per the conventional protocols. Track and trace systems used in post offices around the world is standardised and universal and is administered by the Universal Postal Union - the UN body that governs postal services. While brushing aside Taudevin’s unfounded attack on a compa-

ny that has built from strength to strength and had certainly become the leader in the logistics and courier business - Post PNG is willing to assist Taudevin recover his consignment in every way possible. The signing of the Service Level Agreement with NSO is one of the highlights of mega contracts Post PNG has been winning in recent times from blue chip clients. This in itself extols the capacity and potential the company had worked hard to build through professionalism and good business values.

David Lepi Konedobu

Prostitution is here to stay

I WRITE to express my opinion on the issue of prostitution.

It is time we put some educated thought into this phenomenon. We may find that like everything else it does have strengths and weaknesses.

It seem everyone wants to jump on the band wagon and condemn it and brand it unholy or illegal or whatever best word they can find to demean it.

Let us to put a stop to this nonsense of PNG being a Christian country and debate issues like this with informed thought and good reasoning.

The slogan of being a Christian country does not carry any real meaning as we have killed so many, stolen billions from the

public purse, committed adultery and engaged in polygamy and yet condemn prostitution. This is absolute hypocrisy.

I keep an open mind and state that it must be decriminalised or adequately legislated and add the following to the debate;

It will alleviate poverty among the less fortunate ones by giving them the opportunity to earn a living

Put food on the table for those involved

Clothes and send kids to school

Everyone has a freedom of choice in what he/she wants to do

No discrimination of prostitutes as they are part of the society we live in Decriminalise it and control it

Provide safe havens for trading

Text us on 208

ALCOHOL’S RIDDLE

to account?

Provide protection for those involved

Make them pay taxes and contribute to super funds

It will provide opportunities for employment, e.g. security guards, pimps, drivers, house keepers, yard keepers, condom sellers, etc.

It will be transparent and not driven underground and dangerous

I think we have blindly outlawed prostitution and cannot see the opportunities it brings.

Thanks Maru for speaking out on misuse

I AM appalled at the level of corruption that is plaguing all systems of government and the private sector.

The front page story on the Boram Hospital K1.2 million is sickening.

How can a person just walk off with K1.2 million without literally doing any work, this is insanity.

I commend Richard Maru for instigating the investigation into this corruption and I believe there are more similar corrupt deals within the provincial administration throughout the country that is deeply entrenched.

With this incident in Boram hospital, it has somehow given me some hope to make an observation on the officers of the Sandaun Treasuries, both at the provincial

10 years ago

and districts level. It has come to our interests that some of these officers live a lavish life. Can you imagine, they can play pokies seven days a week, get drunk every second day and do big shopping everyday and yet most of them are clerks.

One wonders where they are getting all the money from. I am saying this because, I am a highly paid person compared to these officers, but I still find it hard to sustain my salaries for the next two weeks before the next pay day.

Like Maru has rightly said, “there is a syndicate in every provincial administration in the country” and it is deeply rooted because everyone is involved from the top to the tea boy/cleaner, and Vanimo and West Sepik Province

is no exception. I find it difficult to comprehend the kind of money these officers spend and the question is, “where these monies coming from”.

Vanimo and WSP lack development because public servants are seen spending public monies on pokies, drinking, womanising and going to Batas.

This is very serious and I suggest police and other agencies should conduct an in-depth investigations into all government agencies to apprehend the culprits and bring them to face justice.

Concerned Citizen

I don’t believe alcohol producers and retailers will escape the wrath of God on judgement day for the havoc alcohol creates in our society. Tribal violence, property destruction, marriage breakups, road accidents, addictions and deaths attributed to alcohol are indisputably far too many. No government organisation dare advocate a complete ban on alcohol for fear of being ridiculed. It is a known fact that manufacturers and shareholders will always de fl ect alcohol-induced lawlessness and deaths to consumers. They say, “we in PNG don’t know how to drink alcohol”, implying that you drink in moderation and behave, or else trouble awaits you or simply “drink at your own risk”. That is a big ask from the beer manufacturers. In no way will they accept responsibility for alcohol-related issues. Ask them a simple moral question and they will tell you that alcohol-related issues are created by those who don’t know how to drink alcohol, even though such pathetic reasoning fails to deride common sense and facts. Their conscience will always trouble them as long as they produce and sell this addictive and mind distorting beverage.

Anti-alcohol

Port Moresby PETROMIN’S DISASTER

The decision fi ve years ago to buy Tolukuma mine was a disaster. Emperor ( previous owner) must have rubbed their hands in glee. We were never told what it cost - even though public money was used. The due diligence - so sadly lacking.

Does this mean - now - after four years of losses - the Board members of Petromin will be held

A duty of care has been breached. Such poor decisions mean each member of the board should be privately liable for the losses incurred on both the sale payment, and operating loss since.

Legal Eagle - Boroko

WHERE’S SCHOOL BUS

I would like to know where has the school bus that was donated for Evedahana Primary School by the member of Northeast gone?

I would like to ask the education authorities if it is right for the headmaster and board chairman to keep the bus at their homes and use it for their personal use?

Why are teachers coming late due to transport problems because they catch PMV buses or run around doing school business on PMV buses while the school bus is used for personal use.

How come that school bus does not have a paid driver and the bus is never seen in the school grounds? We heard about the bus but where is it?

There are many things not right at that school but parents cannot express their concerns and frustrations because there is hardly any parents and teachers meeting. I would like to call on the education authorities to start setting up a committee that goes in to check schools the quality of teaching, attendance of teachers and auditors to go in and check the school’s books.

Can Evedahana Primary school return the bus back to the member’s of fi ce since the teachers, students and the school are not bene fi ting.

Concerned aunty via email

Papua New Guinea has an independent judiciary which is strong and vibrant and one everyone can be proud of Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane said. PC Feb 8, p3

It is the duty of the courts, assisted by a It is the of the courts, assisted a competent legal profession that holds the key competent that holds the to the disposition of these cases in a timely to the of these cases in a timely and qualitative manner. and manner.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia speaking to young lawyers entering the Chief Justice Sir Salamo to young the bar during their swearing in ceremony to the legal profession bar their in ceremony to the profession.

Tigani42 Bogia – Madang Province

Lae not beneficial to Morobe

BY HAIVETA KIVIA

MOROBE Province has not benefitted to the maximum despite having its provincial capital Lae, as the second largest city and the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea, says town planner Wesley Aruga.

Mr Argua, the first PNG national to be appointed to the town planner position, made this remark when presenting a diagnostic assessment of the prov-

ince through his employer Aleena Limited, last Friday.

Aleena has been contracted by the national Government to carry out a feasibility study of the proposed Lae-Madang Highway via Finschhafen.

The company would begin the feasibility study in two weeks time and says that the K2 billion highway would be a self-sustained project, with revenue to be generated from agricul-

ture projects to be initiated along the highway.

He said the simple reason why Morobe was not benefitting from Lae was that most of its districts and local level governments were not connected by road to it, commerce and trade bypassed its citizens and was making millionaires in the Highlands region.

“You have the biggest sea port in the whole of Pacific region but its benefitting other countries in the Asian

region and those provinces connected to Lae by road, and you only get the spill off effects,” he said.

“You tell me if I am wrong, how many millionaires are in Morobe compared to the Highlands region?”

He said the Highlands provinces and their districts are connected to Lae by road so commerce and trade is cheaper than air transport of which Morobe is so reliant on.

He said a study shows that

the Fisika region had lot more airstrips compared to the Highlands region and it was because the districts were not connected by road to Lae.

The mountainous section of the existing Lae-Madang Highway is prone to landslips and there have been numerous calls for an alternate route for many years from experts and the general public. Aleena is doing a feasibility study for this alternate route.

Same sex marriages ‘a disgrace’

SAME sex marriage is a disgraceful practice for Papua New Guineans to be involved in, says Tom Lepatu, the director for TSCF in PNG.

The Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship students director pointed out the topic of same sex marriage for youths in Papua New Guinea to stay away from such activity, after finding out that there where activities as such going on in the country.

“Marriage is a fundamental social institution that does not exist just for the emotional satisfaction of two individuals but for the greater good of the community which stands under the blessing or curse of God,” Mr Lepatu said.

He stressed that a family begins when a husband and wife become married. This relationship is reflective of the love God has for His people. The family then grows as children are born into it.

Lepatu said families should be protected and strengthened, since they are the places where the future generations are nurtured.

“Families are the building block and foundation of our society.

“God teaches in the Bible that the traditional family is the God ordained unit of our society and is the basis of a nation’s strength.

“His Word stands over society and when it is deliberately flaunted in the name of progress and enlightenment, than it is not light but deep darknessthat results,” he said.

Lepatu said societies that put emotional fulfillment before right actions and principles will soon give way to a multitude of addictions and deep corruptions and collapse.

Oil palm company opens first bridge

THE East New Britain Palm Oil Limited has achieved a historical milestone – opening of its first permanent bridge since the establishment of its oil palm plantation, Tzen Plantation, in the Wide Bay area of Sinivit LLG, along rural south coast Baining of East New Britain Province.

The K5.5 million bridge over the Wulwut River in the Tol-Masarau ward is 96m in length with a width span of 450m and is now catering the constant flow of traffic as a result of the progress of a thriving oil palm industry in the area.

“The contractor cost was K2.5 million while machinery cost such as excavators, utility trucks and material cost approximately K3 million, with construction duration of two and half months commencing in November 2014,” ENBPOL said in a statement.

The river has a reputation of claiming lives when flooded, and during the establishment of Tzen plantation, had unfortunately claimed the lives of company workers.

“We have lost lives, many lives. I hope with the blessings of the Almighty, no more. This bridge is to help us to save lives,” said Tzen plantation manager Rajit Kumar at the opening on March 3. The opening was a low profile occasion, witnessed by landowners of oil palm project site, senior plantation officials and workers.

You have the biggest sea port in the whole of Pacific region but its benefitting other countries...

WESLEY ARUGA Morobe Province

Group calls for action on graft report

ANTI-corruption lobby Act

Now yesterday hosted a birthday bash to mark the anniversary of non-action over a report into a series of major fraud cases.

Today marks five years since the tabling in parliament of a Commission of Inquiry report into illegal transactions involvin g Finance Department which dated back to 10 years.

Proud moment for family

BY JACOB POK

A PASTOR and his son were among 112 new lawyers that were admitted to the bar to practise law at the National and Supreme Courts last Friday.

AOG Pastor Clement Talipan, 50, and his son Joshua Talipan, 23, from Lakuwi Villlage in Wabag, Enga Province, had all the reason to be happy when they were admitted to

practise as lawyers before the National and Supreme Courts of PNG.

They were among the 110 other vibrant lawyers who were also admitted and certified to practise law.

Pastor Talipan completed his primary education in Wabag in 1974.

He further upgraded his marks at the Wabag Code Centre and the Enga Matriculation Centre where he successfully com-

pleted his Grades 11 and 12 studies. He attended the University of Papua New Guinea in 1998 to take up law studies but did not fully complete his studies due to financial issues.

He pursued his pastoral work and attended the Jubilee Bible College in 2002 and did his studies in theology.

He then returned to UPNG to complete his law studies and successfully com-

pleted his bachelor of law degree in April 2011. He attended the Legal Training Institute(LTI)in March 2014 to join his elder son Joshua who also completed his bachelor of law and was accepted at LTI.

They both successfully completed their studies at LTI and were admitted to practise law.

Pr Talipan said he would join a law firm soon while his son is now attached

with Harvey Nii lawyers as a lawyer. Pr Talipan said he took up law studies because it was a noble profession which would supplement his background in Theology.

“I’ve been a pastoSr for almost 40 years now. I first minister the Word of God back in 1976 when I was a young man,”

“I will still serve as a pastor, though I am a lawyer now,” he added.

Act Now’s Effrey Dademo said about K750 million of public money was misappropriated by a network of politicians, lawyers and officials in and around the department, Radio New Zealand International reported.

She said none of the report’s recommendations had been followed up, or those involved prosecuted. “This is another inquiry that is just collecting dust,” she said.

“And it is about time decision makers and the public is made aware of the fact that this was a really big inquiry involving stolen public funds, which the government needs to start proactively dealing with and implement neccessary recommendations.”

PASTOR Talipan and his elder son Joshua (both in gowns) with their family members after the admission ceremony at the Waigani National and Supreme Courts on Friday.

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

Kapi visits village disabled

BY DONALD WILLIE

THE community at large has been blamed for seeing people living with disabilities as being useless and as liabilities.

Founder of Kapi Foundation and advocate of people living with disabilities, Brown Kapi visited the village of Papa outside Port Moresby to make a strong statement on behalf of those like him.

“Let us look and focus on their abilities and not so much on their disabilities,” Mr Kapi told the community.

“We just feed them and wait for them to die.”

“It is mainly for this reason that many of the people living with disability usually have very low self -esteem and eventually die without an imprint on earth.”

Mr Kapi said his visit was to show the community that such people like himself can be valuable in the community if treated correctly.

“I am someone on a wheelchair contributing to society. It is a big statement to say that if you continue to look at us as a marginalised group of people and not look at us

as potential Papua New Guineans also with abilities then you are only missing out on all the good things in our abilities that we can contribute to this community,” he said.

Mr Kapi said the Government and churches in the communities have a major role to play in changing the mindset of the people, and nothing much has been done by these two organisations to address this issue.

Mr Kapi donated three wheel chairs, three bails of second-hand clothing and food stuff to Papa villagers to help those living with disabilities.

About 20 peolle with disabilities turned up for the small but significant event.

He was particularly proud of young 15-year-old Samuel Rei, who is in Grade 8 this year at the Papa Primary School.

He has been attending classes in a wheelchair and hope to become an advocator like Mr Kapi when he grows up. Mr Kapi encouraged young Samuel to continue attending school as education is vital in making a difference in the community.

Resident refutes city land report

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

WHILE it is important to address issues surrounding illegal landgrabbing, a resident says in a report in the Post-Courier on Friday regarding a piece of land, portion No 3205c where he resides, is not true.

Mary Kidu, the East Motu-Koita women’s representative in the Motu-Koitabu Assembly, lashed out against unauthorised commercial developments currently occurring on portion 675, the land bordering the PNGDF Taurama Barracks where one part of the land, Ranubada had been re-portioned as portion No 3205c.

According to one Peter Suam, who was named in the article, he had acquired the land legally and had nothing to hide.

He said he had acquired the land through the Motuan chief Vani Goasa, who was also a land controller. “We signed a contract of sale agreement to formalise the purchase,” Mr Suam said.

“When I moved onto the land, a Daure Ono, relative to Vani Goasa, disputed the sale and got a restraining order against me moving in.

“At the Port Moresby District Court, Vani Goasa won the case and I moved onto the land, residing there and developing it since 2010,” he said.

Mr Suam said he had the land surveyed and submitted a land registration application to the Lands Department however, since Taurama Valley was going to be urbanised back then, the application took longer to process.

“In late September 2014, I put an application for registration because the holdup was the urbanisation of

At a glance

REPORT: It is important to address issues surrounding illegal land-grabbing, a resident says in a report in the PostCourier on Friday regarding a piece of land, Portion No 3205c where he resides, is not true.

MARY KIDU: The East Motu-Koita women’s representative in the MotuKoitabu Assembly had lashed out against unauthorised commercial developments currently occurring on Portion 675, the land bordering PNGDF Taurama Barracks where one part of the land, Ranubada had been re-portioned as Portion No 3205c.

PETER SUAM: Acquired the land legally.

Taurama Valley which was taking long but after it was all cleared and I registered the land, I was referred to the Lands Title Commission.

“During the first hearing with the Lands Title Commission, I explained how I acquired the land but then the initial complainant Daure Ono came back and objected to the ownership of the land so we are now awaiting the second hearing to determine who the rightful owner is.

Mr Suam said he was not the only one that the late Vani Goasa, who passed away in 2014, had sold the land to because has been the lands controller, any sale of land went through him.

“If she (Mary Kidu) really meant business, she should have taken this up when I had initially set up in 2010 but if she wants, she can check the Lands Department because all the relevant documents pertaining to this piece of land are lodged there,” he said.

PLWD advocate with those like him at Papa United Church. Bails of clothing, food stuff and three wheel chairs were donated to the community.

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

Locals help school with growth proposal

BY SIBA MESA

CONSULTANT

Pyande

Kenden has assisted Yalis Primary School in Wapenamanda, Lower Lai constituency in Enga Province, to do aproposal for the school’s rehabilitation project, under the initiative of the current board of management and headmaster.

Mr Kenden, with five years of experience, had his own firm called Kenden Consultant. He was assisted by building engineer Richard Ipu and strategic and development planning

ESTABLISHED: Yalis Primary School was established in 1972, which have grades 3-8 with 14 teachers and more than 450 students.

ASSISTANCE: Consultant Pyande Kenden has assisted the school to do a proposal for their rehabilitation project.

AIM: The aim of the proposal was to seek funds to improve existing facilities to become a high school.

HEADMASTER: Joseph Epore.

engineer Robert Kenden, who prepared and completed the proposal after a year and presented it to the school yesterday.

The aim of the proposal was to seek funds to

improve existing facilities to become a high school – it was focused on the advancement of the library, classrooms and staff houses.

Yalis Primary School headmaster Joseph Epore

said he was grateful for Mr Kenden to come up with such an idea to assist them with the proposal.

“I have been here for three years and had a dream to develop the school but I had no experience in doing a proposal, but thanks to Pyande, we compiled this important document as it is a stepping stone for the high school we planned to build,” said Mr Epore.

Board of management chairman Wetao Taip says from previous records no board has come up with proposals and we were thankful for him to give the direction

on how to do proposals to collect funds as our school needed development.

The proposal presentation was witnessed by parents, school administration and students.

Yalis Primary School had previously received funding assistance from Porgera Joint Venture, now known as Barrick Limited, to provide fencing of the school.

The school was established in 1972, which have grades 3-8 with 14 teachers and more than 450 students, it is located 20km from Wapenamanda station in Enga Province.

Duma supports Mt Hagen road project

BY ANDREW ALPHONSE TRANSPORT Minister and Hagen MP William Duma is in full support of the Warakum-Rondon Ridge Lodge road project located on the southern hilltops of the city.

Mr Duma said this in response to an article in Post-Courier last Friday, that stated that work was underway on the eight kilometre road from Warakum to Rondon Ridge Lodge to link the city.

The report stated that

due to a court battle between Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti and Mr Duma, construction on the road had been shelved for the past six months until the court decided otherwise, as

works on the road resumed on February 1 this year.

He took out a National Court order stopping the Western Highlands Provincial Government and Mr Wingti from expediting K40 million allocated by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for the development of Mt Hagen city roads.

The Warakum to Rondo Ridge was one of many other road projects shelved when the court battle took its course.

Mr Duma said this on Friday to correct the arti-

cle, that neither Governor Wingti nor the WHP administration won the court battle as reported.

He said the presiding judge advised both parties (Duma and Wingti) to show leadership and find an amicable solution to the issue by means of mediation and attribution.

Mr Duma said he took the provincial government and Governor Wingti to court because PM O’Neill gave the K40 million for ‘Mt Hagen city roads’ and while another additional K40 million was

given to the rebuilding of the burnt down Kapal Haus.

He said the funds were allocated based on his request and submission, but when he was suspended as the then Petroleum and Energy Minister, the WHPG decided to divert the funds to other roads in the province, forcing him to take court injunction.

He said funding from the Warakum-Rondon Ridge road was from the Government, of which he is part of and urged this reporter to get his facts right.

MAINTENANCE work on the 20-metre Agibi Bailey Bridge along the 40km Goroka-Lufa trunk road has been delayed.

This is because landowners are pressing for payment from both the district administration and the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government.

The bridge, 20km south of Goroka, was destroyed by flood in September last year, disrupting the flow of traffic.

The bridge links Goroka to the far-flung Mt Michael and Unavi local government areas inhabited by about 37,000 people.

PMV trucks and buses had to off-load passengers at the eastern side of the road.

Three PMV trucks available on the Mt Michael side of the sealed road transports passengers and cargoes to Lufa government station and further to the densely-populated Gouno and Unavi areas.

Lufa MP Jeffrey Kuave is from one of the villages in Unavi. District administrator Wesley Loko said he was unhappy with a Goroka-based construction awarded contract in December to fix the bridge for K280,000.

Compo demand affects bridge Bypass work gets underway

CONSTRUCTION of a bypass road is progressing in Southern Highlands Province to get around a section of the Highlands Highway destroyed by floods last week.

Works Minister Francis Awesa said the department was using a 2.4 metre-wide and 20 metre-long multiplate culvert and the road should be accessible tomorrow for medium and light weight trucks.

The bypass would cost K1.3 million while the Bailey Bridge would cost at least K7 million.

The reconstruction of the washout would be done by a triple Bailey Bridge 42 metres-long and two-lane wide. Materials are being assembled and would be delivered to site shortly. The work will take about four weeks to complete.

Construct Oceanic, which is engaged on-site, is working closely with Department of Works and landowners to get the job done within budget and on time.

Funds were allocated based on my request and submission

At a glance

CONSULTANT Pyande Kenden presenting the proposal to the headmaster and board of management chairman of Yalis Primary School while students and parents look on.

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Cocoa training targets farmers

BY LISA HEBEI

A THREE-day cocoa training on integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) was held last week in Markham district of Morobe Province.

The training is facilitated by the IPBC and targets cocoa farmers in rural areas of the province.

The recent training held at Mangiang village in Umi-Atzera local level government is funded by Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL)

Land grabbing out of control, says Naru

BY FRANKIY KAPIN

LAND grabbing in Morobe

Province has gone out of control, warns Morobe

Governor Kelly Naru.

He announced on Friday he was cracking down on the corrupt practice of attaining land in the province through bypassing the Provincial Lands Board (PLB).

“I will weed out the lands office,” he said, adding that lands officers would have to explain the discrepancies.

Failing to do so meant that they would have to find another job, Mr Naru

said.

He told a sit-in protest at Voco Point beach front on Friday that it was time for Morobeans to take the bull by the head and fight against land grabbing in

the province. The sit-in protest was over a portion of 33-37, section 29 in Lae attained by a Ruben Yapu through the provincial lands board and develop for the past six

years, only to lose the title to another claimant.

“I assure you this is a fight we are going to take on to the end of the world,” Mr Naru said.

He said the corrupt deals had been going on for quite some time to have really sunken the province to corruption.

“Stealing of land is a big disease in the province, starting from the provincial lands administration to the board and Waigani but my government is steadfast to rid corruption today and onwards,” said Naru.

“Land in the city is

already scarce and so we must distribute equally and equitably through the oneman one-block policy,” he said.

Mr Naru said prime land in Lae had been transferred by corrupt administrative officers.

Deputy Governor Judas Nalau confirmed that the alleged claimant to portion 33-37 has not lodged a title submission through the provincial lands board of which he is chairman.

Mr Naru told his deputy to immediately convene a board meeting and return the title to Yapu.

Provincial liaison and facilitation manager Peter Daniels revealed during the training that cocoa production in Morobe was very low and the training will help reverse that.

The training is very important as it assist and improves knowledge of farmers to improve the production capacity.

“It also helps farmers to control their blocks, weed, shade, cocoa pruning, nutrition of tree in applying green or chicken manure or fertiliser,” Mr Daniels said.

Chemica also was invited to display some of its products to the participants during the training.

He said the training also highlighted the use of chemical insecticides and herbicides, the partner chemical Ltd shift into display the products as well as educate cocoa farmers on the best ways of using and applying chemicals.

“This partnership training conducted really boost and enlightened farmers knowledge on the use of herbicides (glyphosate and gramoxome) and insecticide. “Fibronil is a new insecticide used to control insects, cocoa pod borer and ants,’’ said Mr Daniels.

Siniwin: Education crucial in development plans

BY FRANCO NEBAS

EDUCATION is one of the key sectors that government of Papua New Guinea is targeting for the development of this nation.

Nawaeb MP Gisuwat

Siniwin said this during the official opening of a new Gunasu Elementary School at Wain/Erap local level government area on Sunday.

Mr Siniwin said the government wants to see that people of Papua New Guinea receive proper education.

“Therefore, we in Nawaeb district also want to see that

our children receive better education and become the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Mr Siniwin stressed that for the last 35 years such services have not been delivered to the people.

“We must thank the current Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government for introducing such policy as “Free Education” where now all Papua New Guineans will be able to be educated,” he said.

Mr Siniwin also commended the people of Gain/Kusip for the self-reliance initiative taken to build the Gunasu

elementary school.

“Such initiative clearly shows how desperate the people want their children to be educated and not waiting for the government.

I must commend everyone for their commitment and effort especially the people from Gufin, Popof and Dzenzen villages for the construction of this semi-permanent school building,” he said.

Gunasu Elementary Teacher-in-Charge Mr Yap Mafan said the school was established in 2002 first located at Popof village.

However, Mr Mafan said

the school had to be moved to three different villages before to its current location in Gufin village.

He said the school had to be relocated to different location due to disputes and differences between villages.

“I am now issuing a challenge to everyone to take responsibility to look after the school, teachers and the children so we don’t have to move else-where,” he said.

Meanwhile Mr Siniwin announced K120, 000 commitments to five elementary schools within the Wain/ Erap LLG.

For every mine cleared, 20 are laid. In 1994, approximately 100,000 were removed, while an additional 2 million were planted.

SINIWIN witnesses the opening of the new classroom.

MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru (left standing) addressing the sit in protest last Friday in Lae. Picture: FRANKIY KAPIN

WARNING: Land grabbing in Morobe Province has gone out of control, warns Morobe Governor Kelly Naru.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Naru announced on Friday he was cracking down on the corrupt practice of attaining land in the province through bypassing the Provincial Lands Board (PLB).

MR NARU: Mr Naru told a sit-in protest at Voco Point beach front on Friday that it was time for Morobeans to take the bull by the head and fight against land grabbing in the province.

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Administration shuns landowner’s petition

BY SHARON LOWA

THE East New Britain provincial administration will not respond to a petition of its own people, leaving them lost and confused over who to turn to for their grievances.

Settlers on state lease land in the Inland Baining local level government area in Gazelle district are questioning why the provincial administration has not responded to their cries and why the provincial lands division has called them “illegal settlers”. The term was used on them by a senior public servant who was on an awareness

At a glance

UNCOOPERATIVE: Attempts to get comments and clarification from the provincial lands advisor were unsuccessful as he was uncooperative.

PETTITION: In 2014, a petition was presented to the provincial administration, lands division, and the police, but to date there has been no response at all.

RENT: They were considered illegal settlers on blocks, of which they are currently paying rent to the Government.

trip to Vunapalading wardtwo, for the palm oil policy in which the provincial government has embraced to carry out.

According to the policy, oil palm will be cultivated on customary land with an established understand-

ing between the traditional landowners and the oil palm company, and not on State land occupied by people.

In 2014, a petition was presented to the provincial administration, lands division, and the police, but to date there has been no

response at all.

The provincial administration claimed that it was aware of the petition and has not done anything about it, saying it is waiting for respective district administrations to address the situation first.

The main concern of the petition was the involvement of armed police officers, environmental concerns and social issues that would arise if they allowed oil palm planation on their land.

Ward member Conrad Wangaia said they were considered illegal settlers on blocks, of which they are currently paying rent to the

Government.

He said the government had a signed a 99 year-lease agreement with their fathers when they were invited to settle on these blocks and in no sense they are illegal settlers.

Mr Wangaia said the people are being threatened by current activities of the oil palm company.

He said in some nearby blocks, settlers have been evicted under the presence of armed police personnel. Attempts to get comments and clarification from the provincial lands advisor were unsuccessful as he was uncooperative.

Kenabot crime rate worries police chief

EAST New Britain provincial police are concerned with the increase in breakand-enters and stealing incidences in the Kenabot residential area in Kokopo since the beginning of this year.

Provincial police commander Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said there was a need to set up a police post at Kenabot, which will be manned by three police personnel who will permanently take charge of policing the area.

Supt Wagambie said police at Kenabot will not only be watching the residential area but also the surrounding villages of Ulagunan and Bitapabeke.

He said the population in the area has increased with more houses being built and people moving in.

“I will be giving a submission to the Provincial Administration as well as to the Member for Kokopo, to seriously look at assisting police to get this in place,”

Supt Wgambie said.

He said this was a proactive approach which can be put in place to deter the escalation of criminal activities in the area.

“I would also like to see police posts being set up, with allocation of vehicles in many of our Local Level Governments areas, so that police services are easily accessible to the larger community.

“Being proactive is better than responding to incidents after they have occurred,”

Supt Wagambie said.

Meanwhile, just last week, seven suspects rushed into the NAQIA office at Kenabot and held up the employees.

Supt Wagambie said the suspects off with office equipment and some cash in the NAQIA office car which they took as well.

Supt Wagambie said police were notified and a quick search of the area resulted in the vehicle being recovered at the Kenabot cemetery.

All suspects had fled before police arrived, he said.

FEMALE student pregnancy is a concern in any institution and the Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment is no exception.

This is according to PNG UNRE acting Registrar, Gamoga Bogarei, who spoke at the launching of the institution’s orientation and registration program recently.

He urged all female students to be extra cautious and make use of the counselling services available at the school student support services or the clinic.

“Parents, guardians and relatives are sacrificing a lot to pay for your education so make it your business to succeed,” Mr Bogarei told the students.

He told them they must always think quality and have positive thoughts as this will help them along the way.

Mr Bogarei urged the students to stay away from negative influences, remain focused on their studies and that they must respect the university’s discipline codes and live within them.

“Your success and failure will depend on how you manage your time, do not waste it,” he said.

University students pregnancy a concern Crocodiles disrupt daily chores

BY SHARON LOWA CROCODILES

in remote parts of East New Britain Province are very dangerous for local people in the area, as they are now chasing them and disrupting their daily activities.

There is an urgent appeal to concerned authorities to address the situation in Palmalmal area of Pomio District. People are now fearing for their lives.

According to a government officer, Damien Tanrea, women are now scared of going to their gardens and to the rivers for their daily chores, as they are at risk of crocodile attacks.

Mr Tanrea said even fishing trips are now shorter and thus affecting the people’s food gathering norms.

Recently, there has been an increase in crocodile related incidents, where people are being attacked while on fishing trips, hunting or just doing their normal chores.

THE heavy downpour has had quit an effect on residents living in valleys or lower grounds. This picture shows a road in West New Britain Province in knee-height water.

WEATHER MAYHEM

UN wants more authority for chiefs

BY ROMULUS MASIU

AUTHORITY must be given

back to the chiefs if people want to achieve good governance at village levels, a United Nations representative in Bougainville says.

The strong message came from Peter Siunai, the peace and governance analyst with UNDP in Arawa, while addressing former combatants who reconciled with their victims and their families at Panakei mini town in Siwai, South Bougainville.

The ceremony attended by over 50 ex-combatants from Konga area, reconciled with families of nine civilians who were gunned down during the crises and other victims who were tortured and injured with whose properties were destroyed at the start of the Bougainville crisis in 1998-1999.

Car accident victim awaits insurance claim

BY SEBASTIAN HAKALITS

THE Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL) has not paid K45,000 to a road accident victim as promised since July 2014.

The victim, Daniel Tsongan, 45, of Tarlena village in Buka, had made the claim when he sustained

serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle on January 31, 2014, at Kokopau.

As a result of the accident, he has become an amputee who, has hearing difficulties and is visibly impaired.

Mr Tsongan said he filled all the necessary forms and reports of the accident as required by MVIL and had

been assured that the money would be forthcoming.

He and his wife had been checking their joint bank account since July last year, but to no avail.

He said on the advice of BSP, Mr Tsongan opened a joint account with his wife, Gissel Tsongan, as the signatory in anticipation of the

MVIL money.

According to the couple, the MVIL claims officer in Port Moresby advised them in July last year that K45,000 had been deposited into their account and would take seven days bank clearance. The couple checked two weeks later only to find that nothing had been

deposited.

Attempts by Post-Courier to get comments from the MVIL officer were unsuccessful.

However, another claims officer said that two previous attempts to deposit had failed and a third attempt was done at the end of last week.

Cut in tuition fee funds may affect schools

BY SEBASTIAN HAKALITS

DECREASE in tuition fee allocations this year will affect all schools throughout Papua New Guinea, including those in Bougainville, says Bougainville Education Board chairman Anthony Tsora.

He said Bougainville has received only K200,000 tuition fee free allocation for this year, which is a huge decrease from K1.4 million received in 2014.

“The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) must now chip in to

accommodate the deficit as many schools might close by mid-year.

“The new Bougainville Education Board function is to prepare, decide on the budget and make decisions regarding school fee.

“It has imposed a K200 fee for boarding students in secondary, technical and vocational schools while day students are required to pay K100,” Mr Tsora said.

He said if the decision was not made, many schools would have faced problems as soon as the academic

year began, because price of goods and services in Bougainville is very high.

As the governing council chairman for Bishop Wade Technical Secondary School, Mr Tsora is questioning why ABG school fee assistance scheme, imposed by the Bougainville interim government in 2004, had ceased.

“If it was the decision of the previous government, then it was more or less mandatory by law, the ABG has a commitment to meeting this grants and it needs to be addressed,” he said.

“The ABG seems to be forgetting schools in the region and must not rely on the national Government grant.

“The education board will assess the legality of the ABG grant and why it was ceased.

“At the end of last year, many schools had debts, the fi rst instalment will be used to settle these debts as many suppliers have given materials on credit.

“To all parents and leaders in Bougainville, if we do not have support from the ABG then schools may

be forced to shut down by June,” Mr Tsora said.

National MP’s district services improvement program (DSIP) funds for this year has increased to K15 million and out of that, K3 million is for education to cater for the new structure levels of 2-6-6 grades next year as students will continue to Grade 12.

Mr Tsora said our schools must be seen as high impact institutions and must be improved to build the high impact project that is much talked about in Bougainville.

Mr Siunai told those who came to witnessed the reconciliation ceremony that true peace must come from the heart and both the perpetrator and the victim must forgive each other for what happened in the past.

The former combatants were challenged to give back the authority that was withdrawn from traditional chiefs at the start of the crises to show true commitment.

The village authority must take responsibility now to govern the village and provide safety and security of the people.

“You must exercise your traditional authority to address law and order issues and start confiscating weapons to make your communities safe.

“Good governance must start at the village level. Many of you are former fighters and today you are chiefs, you must start looking after your people, ensure they feel safe and free to start developing capacities to prosper and enjoy life once again,” Mr Siunai said.

During the ceremony, former BRF commander and now chairman of the Pongo COE, David Mikisam, led his comrades to hang shell money on families of murdered victims and asked for forgiveness in a true Bougainvillean way.

Mr Mikisa, representing the perpetrators, said he was truly sorry for what happened and begged for forgiveness and further assured his people to enjoy life and prosperity now that they have reconciled.

Present at the ceremony were Kopii MP Philip Kuhena, Ramu MP Thomas Pataaku and others.

A COUPLE showing the letter from MVIL acknowledging their claim.

Porgera LOs claim $US4b from Barrick

Market Snapshot

BARRICK Niugini Limited’s intention to sell its 95% shares in the Porgera mine was a commercial decision and there was no need for landowners to know.

If Barrick only sold its shares in Porgera mine, the landowners would have been informed. However, Barrick decided to sell all its businesses in the country (PNG) including the Kainantu mine in Eastern Highlands and other exploration licenses in the country, and there was no need for the landowners in Porgera to know this commercial deal.

Barrick PJV Community Relations manager, Timothy Andembo said this during a public forum at the Porgera station last Friday, when asked by landowners why Barrick did not inform them of its

intention to sell its 95% shares in the mine.

Mr Andembo said Barrick’s decision to sell off all its businesses in PNG was part of a decision to sell off all Barrick mines and assets in Asia Pacific after making losses.

He urged landowners not to make an issue of why Barrick never told them of its intention to sell its shares because Barrick was a commercial entity of its own, and the landowners had no say in the management and affairs of the company.

Landowner and Member for Lagaip-Porgera Nixon Koeka Mangape said Barrick should have informed the landowners of its intention to sell its shares in the Porgera mine.

“Barrick never told us but we

found out ourselves. We are not happy so before it goes it must pay our claim of more than $US4 billion or more than K10.4 billion that we have in place at the moment,”

Mr Mangape said.

He said the $US4 billion plus claim was for breach of contract agreements including Special Mining Lease landowners’ resettlement packages, Fly in Fly Out agreement projects, infrastructure including roads and bridges, social and environmental damages.

Mr Mangape on behalf of landowners from both Special Mining Lease (SML) and Lease for Mining Purposes (LMP) said the claim was genuine and if Barrick doesn’t pay, they will take it to the international arbitration.

“Enough is enough. How much it

costs will not stop me. Now I have wings and the legs to fight and I will fight to the end, not through gun battle like Bougainville did but through the courts,” Mr Mangape said.

The MP said he had expert lawyers and scientists already working on the ground perusing the $US4 billion claim, and all affected landowners must work with them and give the support they need.

“This is a fight not only for Porgera but Enga and PNG as a whole because everyone will benefit,” Mr Mangape said.

He said Barrick must pay the liabilities first before it sells its shares to other investors.

Barrick did not respond to queries from the Post-Courier yesterday.

Leaders challenged to defend PNG’s natural resources

BY PATRICK T. WUNDAI

POLITICAL leaders and elites of the country have been urged to put on their thinking caps to reflect on the scale and extent of exploitation of the country’s natural resources.

Natural resource and land advocate Simon Ekanda in supporting Trade and Commerce Minister Richard Maru who in the Sunday Chronicle dated January 5, stated PNG Resources are raped by foreigners and asked: “Why are they (political leaders and elites) not speaking up and defending our nation?”

The Mama-Papa Graun Association president said: “No one is alarmed or concerned about the way in which foreigners are exploiting our natural resources in

The bottom line

a massive scale from mining and petroleum to logging and land grabbing and alienation. It is frightening indeed” Mr Ekanda said.

“Minister Maru needs strong support from all his colleagues in Cabinet and in Parliament.

“Why are elected leaders keeping silent when our nation is being raped as correctly stated by Minister Maru?” Mr Ekanda asked.

The PNG indigenous rights and land ownership advocate said the raping of natural resources started off with Paguna Mine in Bougainville in 1970s where landowners’ rights and land were grossly abused and alienated.

“When they asked for a review of the mine’s benefits, they were labelled as rebels or terrorists.

“History confirms that our consecutive Governments were quick

to listen to foreign exploits while our own people’s concerns are always brushed aside.

“The PNG LNG Project is another classic example of rape of our oil and gas resources.

“Our own Government plus most ‘people’ who claim to be representatives of the people in Parliament appear to be enemies of their own people,” he said.

The outspoken advocate stressed that those who are supposed to defend and preserve the rights, land and resources of Papua New Guineans have either gone to bed with foreign exploiters or are simply ignorant of what is going on.

“I fully support Minister Maru for speaking out the truth and showing true leadership without fear or favour.

“I will fully brief Minister Maru

$A struggling after strong US jobs data

SYDNEY: The Australian dollar has struggled to keep above 77 US cents following the release of surprisingly strong US jobs figures.

At 1700 AEDT on Monday, the local currency was trading at 76.99 US cents, down from 78.01 cents on Friday.

The US economy pumped out 295,000 new jobs in February despite severe weather disruptions and mounting layoffs in the oil industry, taking the unemployment rate down to 5.5 per cent.

The stronger than expected figures sent the US dollar surging to eleven-and-a-half-year highs, while the Australian dollar tumbled, OzForex foreign exchange dealer Matt Richardson said.

as to how the PNG LNG Project has raped my gas fields in Hides and why I want him to protect the landowners from the proposed P’nyang Gas Project.

“As I release this statement to the media, all the landowners of the PNG LNG Project are still waiting for ExxonMobil to pay them their royalty after 11 months of selling LNG.

“By law, landowners are to be paid royalty every month.

“The State failed to direct ExxonMobil to identify genuine landowners before the project’s various Agreements were signed as required by Law. The State became ExxonMobil’s puppet.

“That is why I am convinced that the PNG LNG Project raped my gas fields in Hides,” Mr Ekanda reiterated.

The sale of Barrick Niugini Limited’s 95% shares in Porgera mine was a commercial decision.

The US dollar rally was being driven by expectations that the US Federal Reserve would focus on the strengthening jobs market when deciding whether to hike interest rates, he said.

“The hardy employment growth has led many investors to expect a shift in Fed rhetoric when it meets again on March 17,” Mr Richardson said.

“As the Reserve Bank maintains an easing bias and the Fed is looking to tighten, the outlook for the Australian dollar moving forward has a definite bearish tone attached.”

At 1700 AEDT, the Australian dollar was at 93.20 Japanese yen, down from 93.62 yen on Friday, and at 71.02 euro cents, up from 70.77 euro cents.

The strong US jobs figures also left Australian bond futures prices struggling.

But prices could pick up in coming days as the European Central Bank kicks off its quantitative easing program, Westpac senior market strategist Damien McColough said.

“Australia has benefited from quantitative easing policies around the world, so it’ll be interesting to see whether that helps,” he said.

At 1630 AEDT, the March 2015 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 97.300 (implying a yield of 2.700 per cent), down from 97.405 (2.595 per cent) on Friday. The March 2015 three-year bond futures contract was at 98.020 (1.980 per cent), down from 98.080 (1.920 per cent).

A VIEW of the open pit mine at the Barrick operated Porgera mine

Mine reps check site in preparation for mine challenge

EMERGENCY Response team representatives from mining and petroleum companies in the country converged in Madang on March 6, 2015, for the purpose of inspecting sites and facilities for the 2015 National Mining Emergency Response Challenge.

Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited hosted the meeting to discuss the emergency challenge, which will be held over a four-day period from August 22 to 25, 2015.

Venues for this year’s events in Madang will be the Divine Word University and PNG Maritime College.

This year’s Emergency Challenge will have seven events covering practical and theory knowledge in all aspects of Emergency Response in theory; fire fighting, search and rescue, endurance, vertical rescue, hazmat and multi casuality.

SILVER PEACE IN BASAMUK

Madang province last week on the calm crystal blue sea. Despite the ever decreasing nickel and cobalt world metal price, Ramu NiCo is still exporting the Mix Hydroxide Product (MHP) to overseas markets in the hope that price will improve soon. Words & Picture: MATHEW YAKAI

Barrick, govt queried on liabilities of Porgera mine

PORGERA Landowners Association chairman, Tonny

Mark Ekepa has called on Barrick-PJV and the National Government to carefully analyse all mine created liabilities and landowners’ outstanding issues, including both environmental damages and MOU commitments.

“We demand the National Government and Barrick PJV calculate them into monetary value and attach it as a separate price tag for liabilities alone, along with its 95% share market price. This means there should be two separate sales prices; for the 95% value and the mine

created liabilities value to be paid to affected landowners,” Mr Ekepa said.

He said any investor willing to buy Barrick PJV’s 95% share, must pay up front all liabilities to the landowners.

However, Timothy Andembo

said assets and liabilities go together and it was hard for Barrick PJV to separate it.

He said the new investor who buys Porgera mine will take on the liabilities.

Mr Andembo said Barrick has already decided to sell off all its businesses and assets in PNG and that decision still remains until further notice.

Mr Andembo, who is also a local from the Porgera valley and a mining engineer by profession, said the government gave license to Barrick to destroy the environment for the purpose of a mine and the landowners have no right to claim. He added assets and li-

abilities of all businesses go together and therefore, in the case of Barrick, all assets and liabilities will go together.

Ipili Porgera Investment (IPI) chairman, Jolson Kutato said the landowners were ready to buy Barrick 95% shares if it sold at a good price.

Other speakers at the forum urged landowner factions including the Porgera Justice Foundation, Porgera Landowners Association, Porgera Women Association, Porgera Women in Business, Young Generation and other groups in the valley to work as a team to peruse the peo-

ple’s interests and fight with Barrick PJV to address these outstanding issues. They said at the moment all these associations are working in isolation and the people are confused and Barrick is taking advantage of it.

The public forum was organised by the office of the Member for Lagaip-Porgera

Nixon Mangape for Barrick to clarify as to why it was selling its 95% shares in the Porgera mine and also iron out other landowner issues.

Barrick could not comment when requested by Post-Courier to verify the claims and allegations.

ERT representatives who attended the meeting were Oil Search, Morobe Mining Joint Venture, Lihir Gold Mine, Tolukuma Mine, Fire Rescue South Australia and Mineral Resources Authority.

Key sponsors for the event so far are Dunlop Tyres (PNG), Newcastle Rescue (Australia), Icom Radios (PNG), Red Earth (Australia), Falck (Australia), Protector Allsafe (Australia) and Fire Rescue South Australia (Australia).

Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited, PNG Maritime College and Divine Word University representatives showed the visitors around the sites where the challenge would be staged.

The delegation was impressed with the resources, facilities and support they received in Madang and look forward to a professional challenge in 2015.

The emergency response challenge provides participating teams the chance to display their rescue skills on different types of equipment and simulated emergencies, to test their skills against and learn from each other and to watch rescue techniques being displayed.

The challenge enhances ERT team development, motivation and assists teams to keep up with current practices for emergency response.

P’Nyang gas landowners reject licence renewal

THE PETROLEUM Retention License (PRL) for the P’Nyang Gas Field reportedly due next month, may not be renewed if the state and ExxonMobil insist on integrating P’nyang gas field into the PNG LNG gas project.

Landowners from the P’Nyang gas field in Western Province have strongly opposed the move to merge, and chairman of the P’Nyang Landowners Association Michael Betkimsak says they will ensure the license is not renewed by employing all necessary measures available

to them. Instead, they are calling on the state to develop the P’nyang gas field as a stand alone gas project.

“We want a stand alone project that must go through all aspects of negotiations as stipulated by the Oil and Gas Act 1998, towards the issuance of development licence, thus maximising benefits for all stakeholders, particularly, the P’nyang gas field landowners and the host district, province as well as the country.”

The landowners demand that the P’nyang gas project must have a separate agree-

ment, independent of PNG LNG Gas Agreement, PNG LNG Umbrella Benefit Sharing and all other previous agreements related to the PNG LNG project.

Mr Betkimsak says the Petroleum Development License (PDL) for P’nyang gas field should only be granted to developer, ExxonMobil, on condition that the developers immediately develop the P’nyang gas project, through the submission of its work plan for development of the project.

This warning has come af-

ter the state signed a Memorandum of Understanding recently with ExxonMobil to supply gas to Port Moresby in exchange for the granting of PDL for the P’nyang gas field.

“We have not been consulted in the decision by the state and the developer, ExxonMobil, to include our resources as part of the PNG LNG Project, categorised as “PNG LNG Expansion Project”. We have always been adamant for a stand alone gas project and will continue to stand firm on that decision,” said

the chairman. Furthermore, they demand the state give legal interpretation through the courts of the MOU that was signed between the State and the developer for transparency’s sake by all stakeholders.

“We the landowners will not be dictated into accepting any arrangements that will not equitably serve us. All arrangements will have to be negotiated with us on a level playing field so that there is a win-win arrangement for all stakeholders, especially us, landowners.”

At a glance

P’NYANG GAS FIELD:

Located in Western Province. LANDOWNERS: Have indicated their strong opposition to merge P’Nyang gas project into the PNG LNG project and are adamant for it to be a stand alone gas project.

CONDITION OF PDL GRANT: To developer ExxonMobil only if the company begins immediate development of the P’Nyang gas project through the submission of it work plan.

Landowners of the P’Nyang gas project in Western Province are adamant that the project remains a stand alone gas project.

OVERSEAS vessel, Silver Peace was seen berthed peacefully at Ramu NiCo’s Basamuk Refinery wharf, Rai Coast district in

Any investor willing to buy, must pay up front to the landowners ...

TONNY MARK EKEPA Porgera

SI govt to address issue of economy

HONIARA: Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says government’s economic growth target of at least five per cent needs to be met if Solomon Islanders are to maintain their living standards.

Speaking to the media in Honiara, Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare said the national economy needs more effort to achieve the target in 2015.

“My government is overwhelmingly convinced that the national economy needs a bigger push to achieve and sustain our economic growth prospect for 2015, ..at no less than five per cent”, he said.

“With high annual population growth and inflation rates, we need to sustain our economic growth rate at more than five per cent so that we can at least maintain our standard of living,” the Prime Minister explained.

He told the media that the country is facing huge challenges that this Democratic Coalition for Change

FLIGHTS CANCELLED

THOUSANDS of people were left stranded after a plane skidded off the runway at Kathmandu airport, forcing the closure of Nepal’s only international hub. Those on board were not seriously injured but the airport’s director said that 160 flights had been cancelled. - BBC

China trade surplus hits new record

CHINA’S monthly trade surplus hit a record $60.6bn (£40.3bn) in February, as exports grew and imports slid back.

Exports were up 48.3% year on year to $169.2bn, and imports dropped by a fifth to $108.6bn, said the country’s General Administration of Customs.

The growth in exports was well ahead of analyst expectations.

China’s economy grew by 7.4% in 2014, its weakest for almost a quarter of a century, and recent indicators show signs the slowdown is continuing.

Customs officials put the surge in exports down to a flurry of activities by companies to get orders processed before the Chinese New Year, which fell in the middle of February this year. “Affected by the Spring Festival factors, export companies in the coun-

try again rushed to export ahead of the holiday and only resumed working after it,” a statement said.

The surplus figure stood at $8.9bn in the same period last year.

But he Lunar New Year had fallen on 31 January in 2014, followed by a week-long national holiday, which meant it provided a weak comparison with this February.

For the first two months of the year, China’s trade surplus has totalled $120.7bn, following the $60bn surplus in January.

“We still see strong headwinds facing China’s exports this year,” said ANZ economists Liu Ligang and Zhou Hao in a research note.

Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday announced a lowered growth target of “approximately 7%” for this year, and cut the trade growth target for 2015 to “around 6%”. - BBC

Banana growers to discuss disease

BRISBANE: Banana growers in far north Queensland will be briefed on Monday about how biosecurity officials plan to halt the spread of a potentially devastating fungal disease.

A farm near Tully, in the heart of the rich banana-growing industry, was quarantined last week after initial tests came back positive for Panama TR4 disease.

The fungal disease lives in the soil and kills the plant but does not affect the fruit.

There is no human health risk from the disease, but if it spreads it could

devastate the region’s $570 million industry. Final results are expected later this week.

Biosecurity Queensland last week urged growers to take precautions and not share equipment or move soil or plant material between properties. Officers will discuss the threat with growers and industry members at a meeting at Mareeba on Monday afternoon.

A mobile Department of Agriculture and Fisheries office will also be set up in Tully to provide information to the community. -AAP

(DCC) government will address.

“Knowing our fundamental problems is a first and important step towards assisting us to formulate appropriate or solution-oriented development strategies.

“We must be focused on what we must do to address what are identified as hindrance to economic advancement.

“Problem is the country are many

and if we are not careful we could be lost and confused and just trying to sort our way through them.

“What this country needs to do is to go back to the basics and establish whether the key .. activities are functioning to the level required to move the economy forward,” the Prime Minister explained.

He said his government is confident it will be able to graduate our country from least developed status within five years but that the task will not be easy.

Prime Minister Sogavare said DCC government strongly believes that the key task is to address poverty by building capacity and empower Solomon Islanders to achieve prosperity.

He stressed that, to achieve the objectives the country needs to open up economic opportunities, maintain socio-political stability and promote good stewardship of our resources. - ISLAND SUN/PACNEWS

We must be focused on what we must do to address what are identified as hindrance to economic advancement ...

PM MANASSEH SOGAVARE Solomon Islands

At the pilotage front

MARINE Pilot Captain Mathew Kolam (right) and Madang Port’s Marine Engineer, Paul Vere on standby onboard pilot boat MV Duadau to berth another vessel after unberthing the Paci fi c Dawn recently.

Industry calls for VDS reform

PAPUA New Guinea’s tuna industry leaders are calling for reform of the regional Vessel Day Scheme (VDS), saying it is counterproductive, speeding up stock depletion, with the size of catches getting smaller.

The VDS has been operating since 2005, designed to ‘constrain and reduce catches of target tuna species, and increase the rate of return from fi shing activities’ by a complex system of fees paid to member countries of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).

The scheme limits the number of fi shing days, which are then allocated by country and sold to the highest bidder.

Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming announced over a week ago 309 licences had been issued to fi shing companies mainly from

the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China for 2015, with access to Archipelagic Waters reduced from 9000 to 5500 days.

Fees PNG Fishing Industries Association President Pete Celso says the scheme has been counterproductive, despite the good intention, because of the recent hike in fees.

The latest PNA agreement saw fees rise to US$10,000 per day, providing an estimated US$300 million(K792 million) for participating Pacific nations.

‘The increase in fees has meant boats are staying out longer, catching or setting nets twice or even more a day, and the average size of the fi sh (is) getting smaller and smaller,’ he told Business Advantage PNG.

According to researcher Matthew Dornan at the Australian National University in Canberra, access fees or their equivalent were an estimated US$218 million in 2013 and US$91 million in 2009, after the Vessel Day Scheme was introduced, compared with fi gures of below US$70 million in the years before the scheme was introduced.

While scheme has been successful in improving economic returns for Pacific nations, it has failed to stop the decline in fi sh stocks.

“The increase in fees has meant boats are staying out longer, catching or setting nets twice or even more a day, with the average size of the fi sh (is) getting smaller and smaller.”

Professor Glenn Hurry, the outgoing Executive Director of

the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), says stocks of yellowfi n, bigeye and bluefi n tuna have all been reduced. Stocks of bigeye are now down to 16 per cent of their original numbers.

More than 60 per cent of the world’s tuna is caught in the Pacific by vessels from distant water fi shing nations such as China, Japan, Taiwan South Korea, Spain, North and South America. The PNG fi sheries zone of 2.4 million square kilometres is the largest in the South Pacific, and between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the world’s tuna catch is caught in PNG waters.

Annual catches are up to 580,000 tonnes per year. The Pacific Tuna Forum estimates that the value of the annual tuna catch in PNG is about US$1.3 billion (K3.43 billion), which could double to US$2.7 billion (K7.1 billion) if the industry explored more value-added activities.

To achieve this, Celso (who is also Managing Director of R D Tuna Canners) has suggested PNG authorities provide incentives to the fi shing companies and on-shore processors that are off-loading fi sh and processing fi sh on-shore.

“This would help us achieve our goal of processing in-country 100 per cent of the tuna catch from within our exclusive economic zone,” he says.

“This would help us increase the volume of production on-shore us-

ing a natural incentive scheme.’ EU market

Driving much of the expansion of onshore processing is the European Union, which has an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement with PNG that allows for tariff-free imports of tuna.

Celso suggests incentives to the fi shing companies and or on-shore processors that are off-loading fi sh and processing fi sh on-shore: ‘This would help us achieve our goal of processing in-country 100 per cent of the tuna catch from within our EEZ.”

However, in June 2014 the EU issued what it calls a ‘yellow card’ to PNG because it is failing to ensure the sustainability of tuna fi shing in its waters, after more than 720,000 tonnes was caught in 2012, well above the maximum sustainable yield of 500,000 tonnes estimated by PNG’s National Fisheries Authority.

A EU report stated the country loses approximately K65 million annually due to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fi shing in their waters.

Late last year, the PNG Government gazetted a new tuna management plan and has proposed amendments to the Fisheries Management Act to forestall a possible EU import ban.

www.bapng.com

A PURSE seiner of fl oads in Majuro. Courtesy: Giff Johnson.

THE Pacific Maritime Training College trains and educates men and women to serve the maritime industry as seamen deck and engine ratings to serve in the national shipping industry in PNG. Pictured are current students and lecturer in class.

Learning about ships, industry

THE PACIFIC Maritime College located in the National Capital District, in PNG currently conducts General purpose Deck and Engineering Rating seamanship training and other short courses.

The PMTC is a newly established private maritime training institution aimed specially to provide affordable short-course seamanship ttraining for deck and engine ratings.

The future outcome will be achieved thorugh conducting of seamanship courses as part of its range of marine related training programs.

“Training at this maritime facility covers the

overall basics for shipping and seafaring, and includes fi rst aid as well as techniques on addressing piracy at sea,” the training advisor said.

The aim of the college is to train educated men and women to serve the maritime industry as seaman deck and engine ratings to serve in the national shipping industry of PNG.

A complementary mission of PMTC is to provide lifelong career learning skills opportunity for those serving in the maritme industry to serve PNG and further promote PNG’s maritime interests in the Pacific region.

THE Pacific Dawn berths in Madang on February 19

CRUISE SHIP IN MADANG

Indicators satisfactory for past year

PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNG Ports) has announced about K51 million as its unaudited after-tax profit for the 2014 trading year which is more than double its 2013 fi nancial results.

“These results come at the back of a stabilising economy, with revenue from slightly higher than those of 2013, due to increased efficiency programmes at the Ports and strict control costs measures which has kept costs under 6 per cent to that in 2013,” Board Chairman Nathaniel Poya said today.

“Our Volume and throughput analysis for the 2013 and 2014 fi nancial years indicates that throughput has stabilised to 2009 levels due largely to the completion of the construction phase of the LNG project.” Nonetheless, the prudent management of the economy by the Government has resulted in continued growth of GDP that has resulted in continued improvements that drives volumes in other sectors in relative terms.

Mr Poya said other important outcomes for 2014 include the successful completion of the 2013 audit, the asset verification exercise and the roll out of the accounting and terminal operating system to Madang Port, bringing to five the total number of ports that are using the Klein & Technology one operating system. The Board and Management is keen to ensuring the rollout of these technologies throughout the port network.

“To this end, Rabaul and Wewak Ports are going to be next to use the new operating system which we envisage to be completed by June 2015. The Klein N-Tier Upgrade is currently in progress, when completed, it is envisaged to improve productivity and efficiency of operations of these ports. This will enable productivity gains for all stakeholders involved in the logistics chain and trickled down through economy” Mr Poya said.

Mr Poya said PNG Ports is also almost up to date with its statutory tax obligations. It has already settled the 2011 income tax of K12.5 million and lodged its’returns for 2012 with its 2013 return expected to be lodged by February 2015. During the 2014 fi nancial year, it has paid approximately K39.5m in taxes to the Internal Revenue Commission.

“The overall growth in throughput and

volume has stablised to post PNG LNG Project levels due to end of the construction phase of the PNG LNG Project. Nevertheless, PNG Ports revenue in 2015 has increased by 12 per cent due to revenue diversification by management

This has therefore enabled a relative growth in various sectors that translate into positive fi nancial performance. At the back of this environment, the Management of PNG Ports has also implemented prudent cost control measures which enabled us to effectively manage our cost which has resulted in unaudited after tax profits which are significantly higher than those in 2013, Mr Poya said.

On a comparative standpoint, PNG Ports has reduced its costs by 10 per cent in 2014 and increased its revenue by 12 per cent. In terms of total cargo revenue tonnage in 2013 was approximately 7.36 million revenue tonnes. In 2014, the company recorded approximately 7.5million revenue tonnage. In so far as containers are concerned, the company handled 342,190 containers in 2013 and 347,830 in 2014 respectively. During this period vessel calls were lower than 2013 due to shipping agents utilising bigger vessels

owing to economies of scale and scope considerations. Overall, the operational and fi nancial performance highlights the good governance framework under which PNG Ports operates.

These amongst others include prudent cost control measures and improved efficiency that results in gains not only to PNG Ports but the stakeholders in the port industry. The performance also underpins various challenges to deliver port services to outer ports which operate on breakeven or loss on a standalone basis. The Ports of Lae, Port Moresby, Kimbe and Madang to some extent remain our key profitable ports. Against these challenges PNG Ports has also delivered key infrastructure roll out throughout its port network. Some of these major projects completed and commissioned include Alotau Wharf extension, Oro Bay Trestle Completion, Lae Berth 3 Extension, Kavieng Hardstand area for container storage and reefer points, gensets

and business manager’s residences at both Kieta and Buka. The Kimbe Coast Wharf Upgrade project has commenced and is expected to be completed by June 2015.

“Additionally, I recognise the exceptional performance of the Board and the Management. T othis end I also recognise the staff of PNG Ports for their commitment and dedication in meeting the challenges we faced in the past years and urged you all to continue to support the company as we move forward in the New Year.

“Furthermore, I also acknowledge and thank our key stakeholders amongst others include the National Government, the Independent Public Business Corporation and all the various stakeholders in the country and abroad for the support over the year,” Mr Poya said.

Mr Poya also thanked the Board, the Management and Staff for their exceptional performance last year and urged all of them to keep up the good work this year.

PICTURE file of work being done to the Daru Port Western threstle.

PNGPCL Chairman Nathaniel Poya.

Freight rates mixed with some gain

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

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

Spot fi xtures

Global fi xtures dropped by 7.5 percent in December, compared with the previous month. OPEC spot fi xtures also declined by 1.18 mb/d or 9.2 percent, averaging 11.63 mb/d, according to preliminary data. The drop in fi xtures was registered in several regions, as fi xtures in the Middle East to both east- and west-bound destinations were lower, as were fi xtures outside of the Middle East, which averaged 4.18 mb/d in December, down by 0.03 mb/d from one month ago. Compared with the same period one year earlier, global fi xtures indicated a drop of 14 percent in December.

Sailings and arrivals

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

Spot freight rates

VLCC

For the VLCC sector, the market continued with the gains seen since the beginning of the fourth quarter in 2014, as market activity remained

high, while vessel availability fluctuated often. However, ship owners showed a constant resistance to lower freight rates, even when the tonnage list lengthened, as rates were expected to continue to rise despite occasional softer momentum during the month. Spot freight rates for tankers operating on the Middle East-to-East route registered the highest increase among all reported routes. VLCC spot freight rates for tankers operating on the Middle East-to-East route increased by WS13 or 22 percent in December compared with the previous month. This increase was supported by high tonnage demand for Asian requirements, affecting loading in the Middle East and West Africa. Thus, VLCC spot freight rates for tankers operating on the West Africa-to-East route increased in December from a month earlier to average WS64 points, up by WS7 points or 12 percent from the previous month. Winter seasonal requirements from the West improved tonnage demand and supported VLCC spot freight rates on the Middle Eastto-West long-haul route in December to average WS36, up 10 percent from the previous month.

Suezmax

Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Aust sick of being lectured on migration

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the country is “sick of being lectured” by the UN over its treatment of asylum seekers.

It comes after the special rapporteur on torture said some aspects violated the convention against torture.

Australia detains all asylum seekers who arrive by boat, holding them in offshore processing camps.

Rights groups have criticised conditions on Manus Island, where asylum-seekers are held.

In a new report to be tabled to the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, the Rapporteur Juan Mendez found that that in some cases Australia had failed to provide adequate detention conditions, end the detention of children, and prevent escalating violence and tension at Manus Island.

And therefore, Australia had violated the right of the asylumseeker to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the report said.

The Australian government has rejected the report.

‘Most compassionate’

“I really think Australians are sick of being lectured to by the United Nations, particularly, given that we have stopped the boats, and by stopping the boats, we have ended the deaths at sea,” Mr Abbott told reporters when asked about the UN’s findings.

He said hundreds had drowned at sea as the people-smuggling trade flourished under the previous government.

Mr Abbott said stopping the flow of people coming to Australia by boat, mostly through Indonesia, was the “most humanitarian,

most decent, the most compassionate thing you can do”.

“We have stopped the boats and I think the UN’s representatives would have a lot more credibility if they were to give some credit to the Australian government for what we’ve been able to achieve in this area,” Mr Abbott said. When asked about conditions on Manus, Mr Abbott said: “All of the basic needs of the people on Manus Island are being met ... everyone’s needs for food, for clothing, for shelter, for safety are being more than met.”

-BBC news

Quick news

SPYING FALLOUT

A PROMINENT non-governmental organisation in Fiji, the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, says reported mass surveillance by New Zealand could affect the group’s safety and security, Radio New Zealand International reports. The comments by the CCF chair Akuila Yabaki come following last week’s report that New Zealand is spying on its regional neighbours, including Fiji, and passing the information on to the United States. Rev Yabaki says it is a concern that the group’s communications are being monitored on the international stage.

TORTURE REPORT OUT

AN independent expert has found aspects of Australia’s asylum-seeker policies have breached the UN Convention Against Torture. Australian media says a report addressing concerns about Australia’s detention camp in Papua New Guinea, as well as amendments to maritime laws, was due to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council yesterday, RNZI reports. The director of legal advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre, Daniel Webb, says the report finds the detention of asylum seekers and conditions at the centre on Manus Island violate the convention.

LOYALISTS ANGRY

NEW Caledonia’s three anti-independence parties are incensed at a French court ruling which says those eligible to vote in the provincial elections must have been enrolled since 1998, RNZI reports. The three parties say the decision is a betrayal of the spirit of the 2007 French constitutional reform which restricted voting rights in view of the territory’s possible referendum on independence. They issued a joint statement on the ruling amid political disagreements which has left the territory without a president for now almost three months.

PETITION WITHDRAWN

AN election petition filed against the former Tongan deputy prime minister, Samiu Vaipulu, has been withdrawn, Matangi Tonga reports. It says the competing candidate for the Vava’u No.15 People’s Representative seat, Tomifa Paea, has pulled out of his bid because of a lack of legal representation. In December, Mr Paea claimed Mr Vaipulu had used bribery and corrupt practices during his campaign.

‘ICE’ COP NABBED

A POLICE officer in the Northern Marianas has been arrested for alleged trafficking of methamphetamine, or ice, RNZI reports. The attorney-general’s investigation division arrested police officer Carl Tudela in San Antonio on Friday night. The officer is said to be assigned to the department of public safety’s patrol section.

WOMEN WAY OFF

THE UN committee on the elimination of discrimination against women has released its concluding observations on this year’s review of Tuvalu. It says the positives include the introduction of new domestic violence legislation and more participation in local council budget meetings, RNZI reports. It also includes the abolition of some discriminatory education practices that prohibit girls from certain training such as that offered at the Tuvalu maritime institute.

Cyclone brews in Pacific

MELBOURNE: A powerful tropical cyclone that could affect Fiji and Vanuatu is forming in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The system was still a tropical low and was 1300km northwest of Nadi at 7am on Monday

Fiji Meteorological Service acting director Aminiasi Tuidraki says the tropical depression, known as TD11F, is likely to reach cyclone strength by Tuesday

He says the storm would not make a direct impact on the Fiji coast at this stage but the nation could expect rain, heavy at times, and strong, gusty winds by Friday

THOUSANDS of asylum seekers have risked the perilous sea journey to Australia.

Picture: BBC

For advertising, call 309 1118 or email akwara@spp.com.pg For editorial, call 309 1025 or email dwaketsi@spp.com.pg

Anslom hit ‘Member’ rocks entertainment

ANSLOM rocked the house last Friday night away at Sports Inn with his hit ‘Member’ much to the excitement of his fans and city residents who were present for the show.

RaitFM and a number of local music production houses were there to support along with other acts supporting Anslom’s appearance included Narox, Nates, Twin Tribe and Wayne Tefatu.

Partygoers swayed to hit songs like “Meri Rivo”, “Teharoa” with Tefatu and of the course the latest song to hit the airwaves “Member” that is taking the country by storm.

But the night was in support of Narox band, as Anslom explained since they were intending to make it back into the music scene after a few decades away. Anslom added that he was busy working on a new album and in the meantime was busy getting things done.

Anslom and Narox are due in Kiunga for a promotional tour in the coming week .

Sports Inn was happy with another big night of promoting PNG artists with the ongoing support of RaitFM.

ANSLOM performing live at the Sports Inn last Friday night.

LADIES in charge of gate takings at the Narox-Anslom concert last Friday.MORE Anslom fans posing for the camera at the Sports Inn last weekend.

La Faiva turns up beat to entertain

NOW under new management, the La Faiva Club, formerly Elcom Club, announces that it is now fast becoming an entertainment venue for you not to miss out when you are looking for a place to go with your friends for a night out.

You can come in and unwine on Friday’s after a long week at work, or when you’re just entertaining friends, bring them down to La Faiva located next to the PNG Power Head Office main carpark area. La Faiva offers catering for 400 heads or you can come in and dine at the inhouse restaurant.

Even when you are looking for a safe venue for your fundraising party, check out the La Faiva Club.

Business hours are from 12 noon to 2am and remember fundraising days are on Saturdays.

Recently, there have been some great live musical performances by local artists going down at La Faiva with the support of local music producing studios and radio stations.

Last Friday, Entertainment met up with Latitude Zero Production’s Harold Semoso who was at La Faiva Ckub in support of Sinai Kiliu, Si-

lencer, Marken, Alfie Tukal from Raiwat and Eldiiz Mune who put out a performance which was a hit that night. Semoso, said LZP’s schedule is very busy at the moment with a good lining up of live musical presentations by PNG artists and artists will be putting out mostly singles. At the same time Semoso said artists were being encouraged to be registered with (APRA). Most of the promotional work for our PNG artists is being supported also by RaitFM.

Lined up to perform at La Faiva are Lil2Jay of Milne Bay and Buka, they are an up and coming artists with their musical genres based on HipHop and Island Reggae; there is also XPerimental of Kerema, Milne Bay and Oro (Tufi) and not to mention new group DaazVille.

LZP began big La Faiva live performances back in February with BJ Nagura featuring Briixie and coming up on March 14, this Saturday is Silencer Band featuring Telek.

On March 27, LZP will support Street Haus Production to promote their up coming artists. Then the following month we will look at getting LIL2Jay, Xperimentols and Daazville.

Junior Uralom Kania preparing for his album promo this weekend

THE Niugini Islands Events Organisers (NIEO) is doing its preparation to promote one of PNG’s new vibrant and upcoming young musician, Uralom Kania Junior at the Sports Inn Club this Saturday, March 14, 2015.

This is the second time NIEO and Sports Inn Club has been supporting and promoting this new artist.

Currently, UK Junior has been in Port Moresby for almost four months since last year December 2014; recording his first new album with the Rockswill Studio, leadby the producer Jerome Malir. This album is expected to be completed at the end of March 2015 where its official launch is yet to be confirmed.

Also on that night NIEO has invited another new artist from Rabaul, Mr Mikes Mamele, who will be belting out three of his new songs fromhis new album recorded by the Sunrise Studio in Kerevat, East New Britain Province.

NIEO, Managing Director, Mr Steven IGAL is very thankful toNative

Sounds for providing the equipment, Sports Inn Club for providing the Venue and major Sponsor LD Logistic and Tokiwa Ltd for the good understanding and financial Support.

Gate opens at 7pm to all the fans, families and friends are all welcome to come alone to support and enjoy the night.

STEVEN Igal, left, Band Manager and Jnr Uralom Kania.

Gospel band to stage a reunion concert

IN 1988 a group of young Church musicians from Northern Province attending CRC Church at Tokorara and Saint Martins’ Anglican Church, Boroko came to a realization that they were individually and collectively blessed with talents and gifts in singing, gospel song writing, arranging the music and performing.

They started meeting on weekends to practice and eventually produced a “demo” tape that was sent to all established recording houses for an opportunity

to record. The responses were all negative but not to be deterred they continued practicing under the older brother’s house when an executive of National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) happened to be visiting a family nearby who heard them. He approached the young men and offered to get them signed up to record with NBC and that’s when the Voice in The Wind came about.

Due to school and work commitment the band members had to go apart and later

SNAPSHOTS ... SNAPSHOTS

in August 2013, members of the band got together to perform at the funeral service of a dear friend, wife, mother, mentor and matriarch the late Taita Kilori and the idea of a reunion was birthed. This reunion coincided with the 25th anniversary of the formation of the band. Re-union album comprising of selected songs from past albums and all previously unrecorded material. Through God’s grace, doors have opened both domestically and internationally to minister through music

in countries like Australia, Malaysia, even China and also to work in collaboration with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to record some of the band’s songs which the band is seriously considering. The Band is staging a Port Moresby concert and album launch on Saturday March 21, 2015 at a venue to be confirmed where the newly released reunion album The “You are the King” CD will be selling for K40.00 each and gate entry will be K15.00 presold and K20.00 at the gate.

NIGEL, Kevin, Benard and Troy posing for the camera.

JUNIOR Poponaya and sister Lavlyn Norma. Big love and kiss from mumy Merox.

PINKY Pinky.

BONZ and mum G having a pose at Sogeri look-

urged to confront past

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Japan to confront its wartime past, as she begins a two-day visit.

She said Germany had “faced its past squarely”, which had helped it to moved forward after World War Two.

Japan has been criticised by its neighbours for what is seen as its inadequate acknowledgement and education of wartime atrocities.

PM Shinzo Abe is due to give a statement later this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

But there is speculation he may water down Japan’s past apologies for its aggression in Asia.

Families visit condemned duo

THE relatives of Australians

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are visiting them for the first time on the Indonesian prison island where they are to be executed.

The fate of the men, who were ringleaders of the “Bali Nine” drug-smuggling gang, will be decided by a final appeal this Thursday.

They were moved to Nusakambangan prison last week to face a firing squad.

They were arrested in 2005

attempting to smuggle heroin out of Bali.

Chan’s mother Helen and brother Michael, who visited him regularly when he was in prison in Bali, have travelled to Nusakambangan along with Sukumaran’s parents Sam and Raji, and other relatives as well as Australian consular staff.

Michael Chan told reporters before leaving the island that they were looking forward to seeing his brother.

“When we get over there, we’ll give him a hug,” the Associated Press quoted him as saying. Sukumaran’s brother, Chinthu, said they had been “counting down the days” until the visit.

“We’ve been told he’s doing well, so we just want to see him for ourselves, just to make sure, and let him know that we love him,” he told AFP news agency.

Speaking on Monday morning, Prime Minister Tony Ab-

bott said the Australian government was “continuing to do what we can”, but added he was “not in the business of peddling false hope”.

“I’m in the business of assuring the Australian people that your government is doing everything we can to stand up for our best values and our best interests,” he said.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who strongly supports the death penalty for drug dealers, has refused to

grant Chan and Sukumaran a presidential pardon.

An appeal last month to overturn his decision was rejected. In a last-ditch attempt to avoid the death penalty, lawyers for Chan and Sukumaran will go to court on Thursday to appeal against that rejection.

“The next hearing on Thursday will be the response from the president’s team about our challenge,” one of their lawyers, Doly James, told AFP.

Ms Merkel and Mr Abe are expected to use her visit to discuss a free trade agreement, the crisis in Ukraine, and anti-terrorism efforts.

During her lecture - at the headquarters of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Tokyo on Monday - Ms Merkel noted that Germany’s acceptance into the international community following World War Two was possible because Germany had dealt with its past.

“There was the acceptance in Germany to call things by their name,” she said.

What also helped were “generous gestures by our neighbours” in re-accepting Germany, she said. -BBC news

THE families took a boat to Nusakamabangan on Monday. Picture: BBC

Saudis are top arms importers

LONDON: Saudi Arabia has overtaken India as the world’s biggest importer of defence equipment, according to a study published by respected analysts IHS Jane’s.

Global defence trade currently stands at $US64.4 billion ($A82.84 billion), said the report from the Londonbased defence specialists.

The figure has been driven by “unparallelled demand from the emerging economies for military aircraft and an escalation of regional tensions in the Middle East and Asia Pacific,” IHS expert Ben Moores said.

The report, which examines the defence market across 65 countries, stated that Saudi Arabia spent more than $US6.4 billion on defence kit in 2014, overtaking India on $US5.57 billion.

Saudi Arabian imports increased by 54 per cent over the past year and the study predicts that one out of every seven dollars spent on

defence exports in 2015 will be spent by the Middle East kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates together imported $US8.6 billion of defence equipment in 2014, more than the imports of western Europe combined.

The United States maintained its position as the top exporter, shipping $US23.7 billion of equipment, ahead of Russia on $US10 billion.

“The biggest beneficiary of the strong Middle Eastern market remains the US, with $US8.4 billion worth of Middle Eastern exports in 2014, compared to $US6 billion in 2013,” said the report.

Despite Russia’s strong performance, boosted by $US2.3 billion of sales to China, the study predicted tougher times ahead.

“A drop-off in exports is forecast for 2015 as major programs draw to a close, a trend that could be accelerated by sanctions,” it said.

-AAP news

MILITIAMEN

Putin describes secret Crimea operation

MOSCOW: Russian

President Vladimir Putin has revealed the moment he says he gave the secret order to annex Crimea.

In a trailer for a documentary called Homeward bound, Putin openly discusses Moscow’s controversial grabbing of Crimea a year ago and described how Russian troops were ready to fight to rescue Ukraine’s deposed pro-Moscow president.

Putin recounts an all-night meeting with security services chiefs to discuss how to extricate deposed president Viktor Yanukovych, who had fled a pro-Western street revolt in Kiev.

“We ended at about seven in the morning,” Putin says.

“When we were parting, I said to my colleagues, `we must start working on returning Crimea to Russia’.”

Four days after that February 2014 meeting, unidentified soldiers took over the local parliament in Crimea and deputies hurriedly voted in a new government.

The Ukrainian province was then formally annexed by Moscow on March 18, triggering international condemnation.

-AAP news

IRAQI Shia militiamen (pictured) and the army continued their efforts to encircle Islamic State fighters in Tikrit, but their approach has been hindered by roadside bombs, snipers and suicide bomb attacks. Picture: BBC

Baby survives 14 hours in river

A BABY girl has been found alive in a car more than 14 hours after the vehicle plunged into a river in Utah. The 18-month-old was discovered hanging upside down above water in her car seat by a fisherman on

Saturday afternoon, police said.

She was rushed to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where her condition has been upgraded from critical to stable.

The toddler’s 25-year-old mother, named as Lynn

Groesbeck from Springville, was found dead in the driver’s seat. Investigators believe the vehicle careered into the Spanish Fork River after striking a cement barrier at about 22:30 local time (04:30 GMT) on Friday.

A fisherman raised the alarm at 12:30 local time (18:30 GMT) the next day, after he saw the girl dangling above the water as it flowed through the car. Three police officers and four firefighters who entered

the river to rescue the child were later treated in hospital for hypothermia. Police said they would not be releasing any further details unless the baby’s condition changed. The girl’s name was not released.

Solar plane begins epic journey

A record-breaking attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane has got under way from Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft - called Solar Impulse-2 - took off from the Emirate, heading east to Muscat in Oman.

Over the next five months, it will skip from continent to continent, crossing both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process.

Andre Borschberg was at the controls of the singleseater vehicle as it took off at 07:12 local time (03:12 GMT).

He will share the pilot duties in due course with fellow Swiss, Bertrand Piccard.

The plan is stop off at various locations around the globe, to rest and to carry out maintenance, and also to spread a campaigning message about clean technologies. Before taking off, Borschberg told BBC News:

“I am confident we have a very special aeroplane, and it will have to be to get us across the big oceans.

“We may have to fly for five days and five nights to do that, and it will be a challenge.

“But we have the next two months, as we fly the legs to China, to train and prepare ourselves.” -BBC news

OFFICIALS later removed the car from the river. Picture: BBC

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 2x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 6 inclusive

Solution to puzzle SL0868

stars

March 20 - April 19

On rare occasions an idea, event or offer appears that’s just plain good luck. Judging by the planetary activity that begin last week and continues until mid-March, this is exactly what’s coming your way. However, with things moving swiftly, you can’t afford to waste time on discussions. Get involved immediately.

April 20 - May 19

Lest week your ruler Venus meet Uranus, planet of innovation, and now the forthright Mars encounters it. While, obviously, this will raise practical questions, your instincts are likely to encourage you to at least take things to the next stage. Do so. The more you learn, the more convinced you’ll be these are wise.

May 21 - June 20

It’s the rare Gemini who needs to be encouraged to get involved in an exchange of idea. But with the forthright Mars newly arrived to accent such discussions, you could unwittingly be overbearing or say more than you should. If the topic is a potentially delicate one, think twice before you speak.

June 21 - July 21

Being able to air your views or, if the subject is more romantic, reveal your feelings at the right moment is important. With the current fast pace, however, you’ve little choice about when you address these matters. With things moving so swiftly, you’ll need to speak up the minute they arise.

July 22 - August 22

Ordinarily you’re able to deal with even very sudden changes, especially when there’s a good reason for them. With things moving so swiftly, developments could be as unexpected as, ultimately, they’ll prove worthwhile. Your only real challenge, therefore, is having the patience to survive the current confusion until things settle down.

August 23 - September 22

Few things are more annoying than those who insist their commitments will be lasting, then suddenly want to rearrange everything. This has nothing to do with existing arrangements, and everything to do with the current unsettling planetary activity. Since there’s no avoiding these changes, it’s worth investigating what they offer.

September 23 - October 22

Nobody supports friends and family like a Libra. Yet even you could get exasperated with the selfcentred approach one particular individual is taking to making plans. Enough you’re beginning to think they need a little guidance. You’re right, they do. Whether they’d pay any attention to what’s said is another matter entirely.

October 23 - November 22

The clash, late last week, between Venus and your ruler Pluto, and this week’s between Mars and Pluto inevitably leads to power struggles. The trick is to acknowledge these issues aren’t nearly as important as they seem. Then, give in. This won’t be easy but, ultimately, you’ll be glad you did.

November 23 - December 22

Waste no time trying to justify your ideas to those who insist on proof those ideas are worth pursuing. Things are moving too swiftly for there to be proof of any variety. Gently but firmly make it clear you’ll be relying on your instincts and will gather the necessary facts as they appear.

December 21 - January 19

There’s no easy way around the complex issues thrown up by the clash between volatile Mars and Pluto, planet of power struggles, which is positioned in your sign. However, what you learn during the painstaking and occasionally aggravating process of resolving them will more than justify the effort and patience required.

January 20 - February 17

Astrologically speaking, last week was one of the best of the year for you. Looking back at events, however, you probably have mixed feelings. Since what’s best isn’t always easy to spot at the time, it may not be until you view them in retrospect that you realise what began it all.

February 18 - March 19

Once you stop trying to find an easy way to deliver a difficult message, everything else will fall into place. The individual in question knows there’s a problem, so won’t be surprised that somebody is raising this particular issue. They will, in fact, be relieved things are out in the open.

Jenneke wants to break barrier

ATHLETES

MICHELLE Jenneke is energised by her role as the hunter as she chases the milestone that would elevate her into world class status.

The 100m hurdler is just .04 sec away from breaking the magical 13 seconds barrier, a feat that would deliver her into some rare air.

Only three Australians, headed by Olympic champion Sally Pearson, have joined that group.

Jenneke’s not so secret weapon is Pearson who could haul the 21-year-old below 13 sec at the Queensland Track Classic Saturday night.

“I’m actually one of those athletes who likes to come from behind, not in front,” she said.

“Seeing some one in front just gets me going.”

With a personal best now at 12.28, it is easy to

Melbourne in gritty 12-4 win

RUGBY LEAGUE

THE purple wall is back in town.

Melbourne Storm’s much maligned defence stood up to its first test on Monday night with the new-look side scoring a gritty 12-4 win over St George Illawarra in its season opener.

Coach Craig Bellamy’s pre-season theme was mental toughness and staying the course during games when times get tough.

It was clear last night the message has got through.

Played in humid conditions, Storm survived a torrid of repeat raids during the first 40 minutes before grinding out a hard-earned win.

Skipper Cameron Smith was superb with a game-high 51 tackles in an inspirational performance, just three months after undergoing ankle surgery.

Melbourne’s attacking game left a lot to be desired, but last night’s scrap was about defence with Storm making 80 more tackles for the match.

The visitors looked sharp early and struck first in the fifth minute.

Winger Young Tonumaipea — replacing the departed Sisa Waqa — was first over after being on the end of a Cronk kick that found its target.

The Dragons asked plenty of early questions of the Storm defence with three repeat sets on the Melbourne line following a Benji Marshall 40-20.

Melbourne’s goal line defence, which

was a constant issue last year, held strong against the repeat attacks.

The repeat sets on Melbourne’s line continued when debutant Felise Kaufusi was placed on report for a late hit on Marshall.

The Dragons has six full sets inside Melbourne’s 20 in the first 40 minutes but they could not produce a try.

Melbourne led 6-0 at half-time yet it felt like it had barely touched the ball.

The statistics backed that up with the home side dominating with 64 per cent possession to Storm’s 34 per cent.

Storm made 214 tackles in the first half to St George’s 135 with Smith remarkably making 37 tackles to the break.

Finally Melbourne cracked in the 50th minute with a Marshall grubber kick finding winger Eto Nabuli for the Dragons’ first try.

The starved Storm was able to string together a few opportunities but errors continued to frustrate.

Yet Melbourne was able to produce something from nothing to take a 12-4 lead in the 60th minute.

Centre Will Chambers was the tryscorer, barging his way over from close range to catch the St George defence napping in what proved to be the match-winner.

Ryan Hinchcliffe was denied a fitting late try in his 150th Melbourne appearance when the referee awarded a penalty against Billy Slater for taking out Jason Nightingale.

forget Pearson’s overwhelming joy at joining the ranks of sub-13 sec hurdlers when she made the breakthrough as a 19-year-old.

Only former national record holder Pam Ryan and Jane Flemming had done it before Pearson.

A similar breakthrough from Jenneke would put her within reach of making semi-finals and finals at major international meets.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted,” Jenneke said. “Only three have broken it so it puts you right up there. “It’s been my goal to do it this year but I didn’t think I’d be this close so early in the season.

“It’s pretty exciting.”

Tonight will be Pearson’s first journey over the hurdles this season and, based on her electrifying times on the flat, it promises to be another sharp performance.

MICHELLE Jenneke jiggles prior to the 110m hurdles at the Queensland Track Classic.

JOSH Dugan of the Dragons is tackled by Jesse Bromwich and the Storm

PLAYER PROFILE

DATE OF BIRTH: 1944

PLACE OF ORIGIN: CENTRAL HAGEN WHP

EDUCATION: 1958 COMPLETED GRADE

6 AT HAGEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

DATE JOINED ARMY: 1960

REGIMENT NO.: 81774

CHILDREN: 5

GRAND-CHILDREN: 15

STARTED LAWN BOWLS: 1975

ACHIEVEMENTS IN BOWLING

1976: PLAYED NATIONAL PENANTS IN LAE

1980: WORLD RECORD IN MARATHON LAWN BOWLS IN PORT MORESBY

2001: NATIONAL PENNANTS IN BULOLO

2005: NATIONAL PENNANTS IN PORT MORESBY

2007: NATIONAL PENNANTS IN HAGEN

2008: NATIONAL PENNANTS IN GOROKA

2009: NATIONAL PENNANTS IN MADANG

John Tiki a living legend

BY JOE GURINA LAWN BOWLS

EX-SERVICEMAN John Tiki still maintains his mark he set in the Guinness Book of Records in lawn bowls in 1980.

Tiki, the longest surviving member of the Murray Barracks Bowling Club, had his name etched in the record books for competing in the master’s singles marathon event for three days.

The Western Highlander from Hagen Central set a new record of 80 hours and 57 minutes in 1980, which

is still unbeaten today. Tiki has a framed certificate of his achievement from the Guinness Book of Records that was presented to him.

Tiki, recently celebrated his 71st birthday, took the opportunity to showcase his milestone achievement with son and former Papua New Guinea Pukpuk skipper David Tiki and regular patrons of the club.

The retired officer began his lawn bowls career in 1975 while serving the PNG Defence Force as a Warrant Officer, based at Murray Barracks.

Before that, Tiki was a staunch rugby league and union player. He

was forced to retire in 1974 after sustaining a serious rib injury from what he described was a no-holds barred “ferocious” match in 1974.

During his lawn bowls career Tiki said he had always been overlooked for national selection.

However, being the popular club man that he is, Tiki never let that affect his love for the game.

He continued with professionalism and did however get to represent the Murray Barracks Bowling Club at numerous major in-country tournaments. He reaped awards in those competitions as well.

His son David, said he is proud to say that his father is a living legend in lawn bowls. “He has achieved top results in his bowling career which we his family are proud of his achievements. I am happy to have my old man still living as a world champion…my world champion,” he added.

The senior Tiki said he was influenced into taking up lawn bowls by a sergeant in the army.

“I used to spend long hours during weekends watching the sport at the bowling greens. Not realising the future ahead of me in this sport,” he

said. Tiki said the Guinness Book Of Records achievement is one of his major highlights of his 40 year involvement in the sport.

“I recall the Commanding Officer of the Barracks giving us two weeks break from work after the world record.

“Yep, we feasted on 32 cartons of beer donated by the SP Brewery and then San Miguel Brewery throughout the two weeks,” he said with a huge grin.

Tiki retired from active service in 2011 and is still awaiting his entitlements.

TIKI poses with regular patrons of the club on the Murray Barracks green. INSET: John Tiki shows he

still can continue for a few more years yet.

JOHN Tiki displays his framed Guinness Book of Records certificate (centre) with Murray Barracks Bowling Club heavies Major Chris Kenewi (left) and Able Tore. INSET: John Tiki

PNG women flexes muscles

“IT’S all about muscle presentation. It’s not how big or small you are in stature, there must be structure, and muscles have to stand out clear… this is the challenge we have especially for a host newcomers identified during the PNG Games,” he added.

“Come July 13 we must ready to compete,” Benny said.

“We have all the bodybuilders on a daily training program where we are trying to establish what is good for them,” he said.

“We can’t expect them to perform until we establish their fitness level and insert their individual needs into the training program and bring them through while we are assessing their ongoing progress,” he added.

Benny once a serious contender in the Pacific region from 2000-2007 said his role as a coach has come at an important time as he is ready to impress on his charges experience, knowledge and skills.

“The Pacific Games is a huge event and this is our home ground. I have to have my wits around me to make sure the athletes do well when their time comes.

Wahgi Tumbe returns

BY JOHNNY POIYA RUGBY LEAGUE

THE Wahgi Tumbe will participate in this year’s nationwide Dicigel Cup rugby league competition.

The inclusion of Jiwaka Province’s flagship team was announced during its franchise launch at the Minj rugby league oval on Sunday.

Jiwaka Governor William Tongamp was present with team officials, Papua New Guinea RFL Highlands Director Joe Tokam and the

14 affiliated leagues in the Province. The management of the Digicel Cup competition accepted the Tumbe after the new team’s management and provincial government showed great interest in returning to the semi-professional competition.

The submission for the team was boosted by the fact that Jiwaka has 14 leagues – the largest for a single provinceregistered to the PNGRFL.

The event coincided with the opening of the new look K600 000 Minj oval which in-

cludes a modern double story grandstand.

The occasion also sought to publicly present the 17 medals to the winners of Team Jiwaka during the PNG Games in Lae last year.

The grandstand includes a dressing room, toilet and shower facilities, commentators and VIP areas with separate bars, for hosting home games for the Tumbe.

Though a team is said to have already been selected to represent the province in the Digicel Cup race, selec-

tion will be ongoing from the Governor’s Cup competition which is now into its final stages in Minj.

Governor Tongamp while launching the team and opening the Minj oval said the first half of the competition would see the Tumbe under the management of two technical officers from NRL team Titans to create a solid foundation.

He said rugby league was a business and the Tumbe would be used as a commercial entity to generate revenue for the code and other sport-

PBF assists PNG U20 team

RUGBY UNION

PACIFIC Balanced Fund (PBF) has come on board as a bronze sponsor to support the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU) Under 20 team.

The announcement was made at the Ela Beach hotel yesterday.

PNGRFU CEO Frank Genia said the sponsorship will assist in continuing their ongoing program aimed at exposing young players at an early age.

“The junior program will gain much from the continuous support of companies such as PBF is doing today, in ensuring the local home grown talent has exposure to the international scene.”

PBF CEO Kennedy Wemin said the decision to partner with rugby union is primarily to invest in young talent and support their ongoing development.

“I

ing activities in the province.

A composition of the selected team will travel down to Lae for the Digicel Nines competition this week.

Former PNG Kumul Joe McConnor and Tumbe Chairman Frank Goi said a trial match would be played between the TNA Lions or Mt Hagen Eagles prior to the 2015 Digicel Cup kick-off in April.

The inclusion of the Tumbe brings the number of teams to seven from the highlands provinces. All provinces have a team competing this year.

We will trim down the team to 10 athletes, eight men and two women,” he said. Those that miss out will remain as reserves.

Benny said Team PNG is targeting six of the 10 gold medals on offer.

These categories include the 65kg, 75kg, 80kg and 90kg+ for the men and 56kg and 56kg+ for the women.

Benny hopes to increase that to at least eight categories, while being wary of the usually strong competition from Tahiti and the Cook Islands.

Benny thanked the PNG Olympic Committee for the funding which has helped the team with training and diet programs.

Meanwhile team manager Tony Sipa said he is confident the team is in capable.

SPILL FROM BACKPAGE

GOVERNOR William Tongamp with officials opening the new Minj Oval on Saturday. Picture; JOHNNY POIYA

want to congratulate the U20 team as the partnership ties in perfectly with the PNGRFU’s goal of offering more opportunities to our local talents,” Wemin said.

The sponsorship of K50, 000

will assist the U20 team headed by SCRUM RDO Robin Tarere in their progress towards participating in the Oceania U20 Rugby Championships scheduled for Samoa in June.

PNGRFU CEO Frank Genia (left) receives the cheque for K50,000 from Pacific Balanced Fund CEO Kennedy Wemin as players Jordan Tkatchenko, Bradley Kelegai, U20 Coach Robin Tarere and PNGRFU coaching director Sydney Wesley look witness the occasion.

FLEX YOUR

Shaping up up for Games for

BY PETER SEVARA JR BODYBUILDING

MUSCLE tone defi nition is high on the agenda for national bodybuilding coach Alphonse Benny.

Benny, a former bodybuild-

er, said the Papua New Guinea team is taking steps to ensure they figure in the XV Pacific Games medal hunt in July.

Benny said apart from having the experience of current Mr South Pacific Jack Viyufa, Donald Kaiwi and Steve

Bomal, his objective is to fi ne tune all 16 (12 male and 4 female) members of the national training squad.

“We have already begun in earnest with a training component already in place since the beginning of this month up until July,” he said.

“The huge challenge before us is to build their muscle size during March and from April to June, we will work on fi ne tuning them… their muscles must be defi ned and be ready to pose,” he said.

CONTINUED PAGE 43

FEMALE bodybuilders (from left) Maggie Samuel, Victoria Monin and Margaret Bomal during the PNG Games in Lae