Post Courier, Wednesday March 11, 2015

Cyclone warning

A TROPICAL low in the Coral Sea near Port Moresby is expected to develop into a cyclone later today, the National Weather Service warned yesterday.

It warned that the cyclone would bring more gale-force winds and heavy rain to the already battered

coastlines and the National Capital District.

Whether the heavy rain would continue for the reminder of the week would depend on how close the actual eye comes to PNG, although yesterday afternoon it was moving in a south-westerly direction.

However, the NWS warned communities along the coast of Western, Gulf and Central provinces to brace themselves for strong winds, heavy rains and storm surges which are expected to be intense today and possibly tomorrow.

CONTINUED PAGE 5

WILD weather bringing s t rong winds and heav y rains con - weather strong winds and heavy rains cont inued yes terday in many par t s of the count r y, including tinued yesterday in many parts of the country, Por t Moresby, where a small landslip (top lef t) fell a power Port where a small left) fell a power pylon and disrupted t raf fi c to the cent ral business dis t ric t in and traf c central district in the morning and fl ooding homes in the Morat a suburb (top the and homes in the Morata suburb right) B E LOW: Floods wash of f the approach to the Ivule right). BELOW: Floods wash off the approach to the Ivule B ridge bet ween K imbe and Bialla in Wes t New B rit ain Bridge between Kimbe and Bialla in West New Britain

Stories > Pages 4-5, 14, 17

Stories > Pages 4 -5, 1 4 , 17

Ombudsman Commission refers Ben Micah > Page 2

Ombudsman Commission refers Ben Micah > Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Fill up empty library shelves in West Sepik

THEgood work of Rotarians to try to supply reading materials for remote schools in West Sepik Province has been undermined by insular West Sepik political rivalry. The politician tries to read a sinister motive into what is clearly a humanitarian drive by the international service organisation and getting it wrong.

Containers of books, not forgetting medical supplies, to fill the empty library shelves of remote West Sepik schools cannot be delivered in case, according to local belief, they are used for political campaign by rival candidates, including the service club! What utter rubbish!

West Sepik will continue to linger in the backwaters of illiteracy as long as its politicians maintain this backward thinking. Children and young people must achieve expected levels of literacy equal to, or better than, neighbouring East Sepik, regardless of whether they are from disadvantaged backgrounds where they rarely or never read books for pleasure.

Politicians can and should help, not be impediments to progress. Local politicians don’t make time to find out that their children can’t read because there is nothing for them to read. Local politicians forget too easily that they are the most important link in deciding whether the district, or LLG, will produce a truly literate generation.

Schools need libraries which West Sepik schools have, but no books; school libraries are the most significant providers of the reading experience for the young mind which, because of local politics, has been denied knowledge.

Right now, the people who matter most – the children – are suffering because of the political squabble of the West Sepik leaders. Perhaps these leaders have other sources, access to better reading materials elsewhere for their future leaders?

For a province that cannot boast about its schools being in the top range of English reading and writing skills, we say, bury the hatchet and your petty politics! School libraries in the rural areas and in Vanimo need books and these books are rotting away in containers in storage sheds in town.

Rotary should be commended for taking the lead, under trying conditions, to build West Sepik school children’s literacy levels. By doing so, they will go a long way to build confidence, self-esteem and well-being in these children. The current state of impasse between the local politicians and donor-education authorities may not be confined only to West Sepik.

It is sad that tribal clashes in the past have all too often targetted schools and libraries as victims. In other instances, vandals have got among books, which may have been donated by organisations such as Rotary, and caused wanton destruction.

The task ahead is to educate the politicians to think progress, convince them that the school libraries must be stocked because they clearly have a central role to play in any provincial or district campaign to improve reading skills. Teachers should, without political interference, ensure that their schools are able to create and maintain good libraries. The bottom line is that school library should be open for as long as possible and to as many as possible, contain a wide and interesting collection, offers a good range of other material and is run by a competent librarian. These will prove significant factors in enhancing the students’ pleasure in reading and in improving reading skills. And in the process, they may lure more of their local politicians to school libraries, pick up and read more books.

heartbeat of PNG

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Micah hits back over Ombudsman referral

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

PUBLIC Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah has been referred by the Ombudsman Commission to the public prosecutor for alleged misconduct in office.

The Commission released a statement yesterday that it had investigated the alleged misconduct in office by Mr Micah, which arose from his failure in upholding his duties and responsibilities of office as required under the Leadership Code. Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua and Ombudsman Phoebe Sangetari said they were satisfied that there was

a prima facie case that Mr Micah was guilty of misconduct in office, to refer him to the Public Prosecutor for an independent deliberation.

The Public Prosecutor has the discretion to bring or decline to bring proceedings under the Leadership Code for alleged misconduct in office.

Mr Micah, who was invited to the Ombudsman Commission office to be informed of his referral, had an argument with Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua about the charges and refused to sign the referral documents, claiming this was all administrative and not leadership issues.

He said the two charges against him included interfering with the PNG Power board and operating out of an office at the Grand Papua Hotel in Port Moresby.

“This is a very stupid referral. I had a very big argument with the Ombudsman, challenging these two charges,” Mr Micah said yesterday.

“I refused to sign the referral notice. They have ulterior motives for releasing it to the media.

“I will use everything in my powers to fight it.

“Did I steal? Did I misuse my office? No. They are referring me for carrying out my duties as Minister

responsible for PNG Power.”

“My conscience is very clear. I have not stolen anything or demean my office.

“This is not a misconduct issue but some agenda by some nameless/faceless people in the Ombudsman Commission to discredit some leaders of this country.”

Mr Micah has engaged Saroa Lawyers to challenge his referral in the National Court.

“We will vigorously defend against these charges. I have been referred for performing my duties as minister,” the Kavieng MP said

Goilala MP’s funeral service today

BY JOE GURINA

THE funeral service of the late Goilala MP Daniel Mona will be held in Port Moresby today. Friends, families, colleagues and those who admired the late MP’s short political career would turn in huge numbers to pay their final respects and farewell to the late MP at St Charles Lwanga Catholic Church in Gerehu stage 2.

According to the funeral arrangements, the casket of the late MP will be laid in the grand hall of the Parliament House at 1pm for a viewing by the Members of Parliament, departmental heads, heads of statutory bodies and diplomats.

Goilala district administrator Jimmy Aniawa said after the body is viewed at the Parliament House, it would

proceed to St Charles Lwanga Catholic Church at Gerehu stage 2 for the funeral service at 2:45pm and then taken back to the Funeral Home at Erima.

He said tomorrow the casket would be taken to Central Province headquarters in Konedobu and laid at the assembly hall for viewing and then taken to Talai settlement of Badili since most of the late MP’s relatives reside

there. They would pay their last respects and from there the body will be taken back to the Funeral Home. His body will be flown to Tapini on Friday for burial and handed over to the people for burial.

Aniawa revealed that the funeral arrangements were finally arranged and released from the Speaker’s office after the arrival of the body two weeks ago.

READY FOR SCHOOL

Water disconnection exercise underway

BY MEROLYN TEN

WATER service provider, Eda Ranu, has begun a major disconnection exercise in Port Moresby, targetting the Moresby Northeast suburbs of Rainbow and Gerehu.

About 1000 residences had been illegally connected to the city’s water supply and the occupants had not been paying their bills for up to 10 years.

Eda Ranu’s general manager for commercial services, Paul Gore, said this year Eda Ranu board had set up a new department to specifically crackdown on illegal connections which numbers more than 4000.

“Out of those 4000 customers, 900 have responded to

The bottom line

At a glance

WHO ELSE: Villages and settlements using water illegally will have to pay their bills once pay metres are set up in zones.

AIM: The reason behind this exercise is to ensure there is enough water for loyal customers.

NUMBERS: 4000 illegal users.

the notices served by Eda Ranu for outstanding bills, but 3100 customers have ignored the notices,” Mr Gore said. Of those 3100 defiant customers, he said 1000 were Rainbow and Gerehu residents, prompting Eda Ranu to start the disconnection

exercise at these two suburbs. Mr Gore said these residences illegally connected because Eda Ranu records shown that water supply had been disconnected for non-payment of bills.

He said Eda Ranu would be conducting investigations on installations in all commercial properties during the next three months to make sure they were legally connected.

“The whole reason behind this exercise is to ensure there is enough water for our loyal customers, given that the city population has increased and there is a high demand for water.

“We have wasted a lot of water through illegal connections.

“Those who have done illegal connections need to pay their bills in order to have water supply connected to their houses again,” Mr Gore said. He the penalty for an illegal connection is K550 and it was only applicable to the 900 customers who had responded to Eda Ranu notices.

The defiant customers, however, would pay their full debts for re-connection or face prosecution.

“As for villages and settlements, we are aware that they are using water illegally too, therefore, we have already planned to put water metres to all these zones so they will also have to pay water bills,” Mr Gore said.

At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 per cent of an infant’s body weight

A NAME

WHAT is in a name? Those defined as youth make up over half of our national population. They are a ticking time bomb in our society if not handled with care and respect.

NO CHANGE

HOPE the National Youth Commission’s replacement with National Youth Development Authority is more than a name change. With the same people in NYDA it’s a bit hard to see how change can happen?

SWEATING

SOMEONE could be sweating following revelations by the Chief Justice of 5000 outstanding bench warrants! He conveniently changed his personal details and now lives in Oz.

NAME THEM

A BENCH warrant was issued for his arrest close to 20 years ago over the death of his wife. Her family and relatives are now crying out for justice. Can the bench warrants be publicised?

INSPECTION

THE Drum on the poor state of city classrooms following heavy rain got a lot of reaction. What about

CONGRATS

NCD roads that contractors completed recently and now have potholes? Hope someone’s supervising them.

U-VISTRACT

IS THIS outfit a successor to the money scheme U-Vistract run by Bougainville conman Noah Musingku? The Bougainville Circle of Profit Academy is attracting a lot of attention on social media.

BILLGATES

BANK of PNG might want to check www. bougainvilleprofitacademy. com. The AROB founder who calls himself “Bill Gates”, is based in Kokopo and has opened a Facebook page offering his services.

WATCHDOG HOPE reports from Waigani on discussion amongst leaders to remove the Ombudsman Commission aren’t true. If you have nothing to hide then you don’t need to worry.

HALLO?

FIJI coppers are still waiting for their PNG colleagues to give them more info on the alleged abused of two Fijian girls in PNG.

TOP marks to Bougainvillean nurse, Maria Lakamiku Towai Nepel, who was awarded the US Secretary of State’s Women of Courage Award yesterday.

PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg

NEW intakes at the University of Papua New Guinea during their orientation week. The 2015 academic year has begun with the welcoming of first year students and also the celebration of 50 years for the university which took in its first students way back in1965. Classes at the UPNG main campus will begin on March 16.

WNB Governor appeals for aid

BY NICOLE JOANNES

THE West New Britain provincial disaster and emergency committee is requesting the National Government to declare a state-of-emergency in Kimbe town areas of West New Britain Province.

The request followed widespread damage caused by the gale-force winds and wet weather experienced in the province in recent days including the damage of Bulumu Ko bridge, the recently built Ivule bridge and Tiauru bridge along the New Britain Highway.

The approach to the Ivule and Tiauru bridges had been washed out putting a stop to normal flow of traffic between Kimbe Bialla leaving people stranded which is also affecting the operations of Hargy Oil Palm Company.

Administrator Williamson Hosea said there was an urgent need for the National Government’s financial

assistance totalling K19 million for emergency infrastructure repairs.

These infrastructure needing urgent repair include Washout Abutment and Overflow at Kou Creek, construction of Buluma Ko bridge, Siki junction drainage and siltation, Foreshore protection, Kumbango Road section, Buluma Village Road landslip, Buluma drainage, Galilo to Makasili Foreshore, Ivule and Tiauru bridges, Buvusi washout and Sarakakolok bridge.

Governor Sasindran Muthuvel had appealed to Waigani for its intervention as the provincial government did not have the capacity to meet all the emergency repair works.

Mr Muthuvel said the provincial government was asking not just for financial assistance but technical officers to come and assess the widespread damage.

He said the Provincial Government has already given K1 million for the

Provincial Department of Works to quickly carryout emergency repairs works on the Ivule and Tiauru Bridges to save them from total destruction.

Mr. Muthuvel said these two bridges are along the New Britain Highway which is the responsibility of the national government but the Provincial Government is stepping in to assist with what it can.

He said this is a peculiar situation as the Province has not experienced such a situation in the past 20 years with lots of areas being inundated with water, roads washed off with oil palm blocks, company plantations and houses under water.

Meanwhile, Air Niugini had resumed its flights to Hoskins but many schools have sent students home until the weather improved. The strong winds have blown off roof tops to houses in various locations with food gardens also under water.

Rains cause havoc in H’lands region

BY TONY PALME KIP

FLOODS caused by continuous rainfall in the Highlands has destroyed gardens and deformed riversides.

Not only coffee trees and vegetable gardens were washed away but even huge landslides have polluted rivers and waterways.

Many families could not drink from the rivers as it is not safe so they store rainwater for personal and household use.

The effects of the continuous rainfall since the beginning of the year was so devastating that it affects families very badly.

Joe Alu, a resident from Warakar in Jiwaka said the land on which his father’s coffee plot, casuarina trees, cassava, kaukau and banana once grew were washed away by river Kar.

“As a result of our garden being

lost to the huge floods, my family is relying on money earned from selling betel nuts and cigarettes on the roadside.

“I don’t know how we’re gonna survive because the piece of land from the stretch of the company’s land (Amuliba Coffee Plantation) that we depend on is gone,” Joe said.

He said he and his wife have many children to feed, clothe and send to school and the little money he gets from working in the plantation is insufficient to support his family.

Like Joe, many families who work in plantations in the Highlands face similar situations.

Many people in the Highlands region believe that the continuous rainfall is a result of climate change and global warming, thus there is no definite weather pattern predicted.

OVERFLOODING at Buluma KO bridge in West New Britain.

Antofagasta in Chile is the driest place on the planet getting less than 0.1mm per year, and with many years having no rainfall

The bottom line

FLOODING was widespread in West New Britain

Extreme weather to continue

BY SHIRLYN BELDEN

THE National Weather Service has warned that a tropical low in the weather systems could turn into a cyclone today.

Communities along the coast of Western, Gulf and Central provinces have been warned to take precaution as strong winds, heavy rains and storm surges would be intense today and possibly into the next couple of days.

According to the office yesterday, the tropical low in the northwest Coral Sea was expected to continue moving in a general westward direction while intensifying to reach tropical cyclone strength.

“At this stage it is expected that the low could reach tropical cyclone strength today.

“People between Western and Central provinces should consider not going out to sea as the weather office has issued gale warnings, for these areas to be aware of the adverse effects of the potential cyclone that could pose a disaster,’’ Assistant Director forecasting Jimmy Gomoga said.

“Areas of heavy rains which may lead to flash flooding could develop across parts of the southern region on Wednesday (today) and could persist to Thursday,” he added.

As of 4pm yesterday its location was estimated to

be 460km southeast of Port Moresby.

The office said that the low was within the Australian waters but effects on PNG could be adverse.

Gale warnings have been given out for strong winds, storm surges and heavy rains which could cause serious flooding in those areas which Mr Gomoga said should be taken seriously.

The low pressure system was said to have the potential to develop into a cyclone by last night or late today.

Mr Gomoga said that gales were expected to extend out to about 170km from the centre once the low forms into a tropical cyclone.

The low pressure system has developed 300 miles south of Port Moresby and 500 miles north-east of Cairns, Australia.

The Australian weather bureau has also warned of this possible cyclone from the low pressure system off the northeast coast of Australia.

Although it is within Australian responsibility the PNG Weather Office was constantly monitoring it since last week and has ensured that people are wary of it and have adhered to the weather notices.

The responsibility is within the Brisbane meteorological office but PNG Weather Office is aware of the situation.

Rain causes traffic nightmare in Moresby

BY GRACE SALMANG

THE current wet weather experienced nationwide has caused damage to vital infrastructures such as roads, bridges, buildings, power poles and others throughout the country.

In the nation’s capital yesterday, traffic stretched along the Poreporena Freeway from Hohola to Konedobu and the central business district because a landslide had knocked down a power pole as well as debris.

According to affected residents along Port Road in Konedobu, the continuous heavy downpour caused the

landslide that damaged the base of the power pole, forcing it to collapse onto the road.

“It’s about time relevant authorities such as contractors and engineers reconstruct and do proper technical assessments to such infrastructures that are suitable to standards of the city,” a concerned resident said.

The Post-Courier witnessed various traffic congestions and accidents around town. Traffic was even worse at Two-Mile Hill, where a major road construction is underway.

Houses at Gerehu Stage 4 near the main road were

almost underwater as heavy rains continued last night to this morning.

Drainage along roadsides were filled to capacity and overflowed, making it difficult for light vehicles.

A cab driver unfortunately ended up on the wrong side where he drove straight into and under the back of a truck.

The wet season is at its peak and the National Weather Service said this will continue.

It said the current wet season is normal during this time of the year and assuring the country that there is no need for panic.

Assistant director for casting and warning centre

Jimmy Gamoga said the country is at the peak of the wet season.

“This is the wettest month so we expect a lot of rainfall to occur nationwide,” he said.

“It is quite normal for the country and we are passing the mid point for the peak period of the wet season at this time of the year where it is normal.

“In fact, previously we have experienced more rain than this year, but this year is just a normal year.

SEE PAGE 14, 17

Wild weather likely to worsen with cyclone warning

FROM PAGE 1

PORT Moresby was drenched, motorists had to navigate through roads strewn with debris overnight from blocked drains as long queues were reported at busy intersections and

The bottom line

roads under construction.

In Downtown Port Moresby a landslip on Stanley Esplanade slowed traffic to a crawl for the better part of the day.

In flood-affected West

New Britain, Governor Sasindran Muthuvel

appealed again to Waigani for its intervention, via a state-of-emergency, as the provincial government did not have the capacity to meet all the emergency repair works.

Mr Muthuvel said the provincial government was

asking not just for financial assistance but technical officers to come and assess the widespread damage. He said three strategic bridges had been destroyed. While the Hoskins airport has reopened to Air Niugini flights but many West New

Britain schools were closed for children’s safety until the weather improved.

The strong winds had blown off roof tops to houses in various locations with food gardens were under water.

Elsewhere, in West Sepik

Province a vital bridge connecting Vanimo with the Wutung Border Post Trading Centre was washed away by flood waters on Monday night. In East New Britain disaster officials issued stong wind warnings to the public.

The greatest snowfall recorded was on Mt Rainier, Washington State, USA - Over 30metres fell during the winter of 1972.

TRAFFIC stretched for kilometres in Port Moresby yesterday as the rains continue to cause havoic. Picture: MARK TALIA

Award winner persuade colleague

BY GORETHY KENNETH

THE United States Government has honoured a Papua New Guinean woman leader with a prestigious award during International Women’s Forum in Port Moresby.

Maria Lakamiku Towai Nepal, from Bougainville, was acknowledged as the US Department of State’s 2015 Women of Courage Award nominee for Papua New Guinea yesterday.

US Ambassador, Walter North, presented the award and acknowledged her work that lent the honour.

Mrs Nepel is a nurse by profession, who is now studying for her PHD in Australia at the age of 55.

She was given the Woman of Courage Award for her perseverance to excel in her career and for her contribution to the people of PNG.

In her speech yesterday, Mrs Nepel, who comes from Siwai in South Bougainville and married to Nissan Island, said: “I didn’t do it for name and fame, I did it for all of us.”

She gave an encouraging speech that women should work together to build the society we live in.

“We cannot make a difference just on our own. Yes we have challenges, but challenges cannot be overcome without our male counterparts.

“So it’s amazing that we can talk about these issues, we are empowered women, we just need to walk the talk.

“Half the time we come for bigger forums like this, we say oh, we are empowered, but what happens when we get back home?

“We have to make the change and it has to start from you, from within ourselves,” Mrs Nepel said.

The bottom line

Taylor: PNG women over-empowered

BY GORETHY KENNETH

Govt to adopt plan for women

THE Government will adopt a strategic plan for women to benefit from hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2018.

Papua New Guimea is hosting the APEC Summit in 2018 and already women are making inroads to have access to economic markets and questioning how they can benefit from the country’s biggest event ever.

At the 2015 PNG Women’s Forum in Port Moresby yesterday, the issue of women’s economic participation in PNG and achieving APEC priorities for gender equality was discussed.

The forum also heard about how important using APEC to increase market access for women was and how PNG would cohost the Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE) in May this year.

Head of Investment Promotion Authority, Ivan Pomaleu, gave a rundown of how using APEC would increase the market access for women in PNG come 2018.

Island Forum Secretary-General, Dame Meg Taylor,

PACIFIC

says Papua New Guinea women are already “over empowered” and they just need to be encouraged to move forward.

In a brief interview, Dame Meg highlighted the quality of women leaders’ presentations thus far and upcoming women leaders had improved tremendously, which was a sign that PNG was advancing.

She spoke briefly about women connecting with the

right people and how they needed to work together and be encouraged to prosper.

Dame Meg was speaking at the 2015 PNG Women’s Forum co-hosted by the US embassy and the National Government. In her inspi-

rational speech, Dame Meg mentioned her experiences of 20 years in top jobs, one of which was in the World Bank and heading PNG offices in US and Canada.

“All of us here in this room, especially our women departmental heads and all of you, I want to say, when you have a problem, don’t walk away from it. You sit there, put your mind to it and address it, this is what I had gone through and it changed my whole attitude.

“The desire to learn every day, live like there is no tomorrow, learn like you

will live forever. So every day, when somebody else says to you about something you didn’t know, take it on board, that it is something that will enrich your mind because it is something you are learning,” she said.

“For those of you in management positions, hire young people who are smarter than you, don’t be afraid of their knowledge because your job and skill is to manage that knowledge. If you can learn how to manage that knowledge, you will have an amazing organisation,” Dame Meg said.

“Because PNG’s male dominated institutions have little inherent interest in genderoriented reforms, they must be challenged to commit to opening up opportunities for women to participate in the economy,” he said.

“Any such challenge must be based in fact, but is well known that lack of quantitative information about women’s participation in diminishes the impact of gender sensitive public policy, donor initiatives, and private sector planning.

“There are four priorities of APEC’s policy partnership on women, providing a framework for facts and articulating challenges,” Mr Pomaleu said.

He said the priorities include access to capital, among others.

Drinking too much water too quickly can cause water intoxication, which is likely to occur during periods of intense athletic sessions

MRS Nepel and women leaders who were her school mates.

PNG women are already over empowered

DAME MEG TAYLOR Port Moresby

IFC gives to TB treatment volunteers

BY ABRAHAM AVEDIBA

IN ITS bid to promote the fight against TB, the International Food Corporation (IFC) donated more than 1000 cartons of tinned fish to TB treatment partners in Lae.

IFC chief executive officer Rosedean Zaily Dzulkfli said the company’s outlook for this year is to support the work of TB treatment as the disease is currently considered deadly in the country.

“We were quite impressed with the efforts of the volunteers from both Morobe Provincial TB Treatment and World Vision offices and that is the reason why we decided to assist.

“We believe that motivating these officials through such little incentives will assist them in carrying out their duties in regularly treating patients and minimising TB related cases,” Mr Dzulkfli said.

Malabag urges hospital staff to return to work

STRIKING nursing staff at Goroka Provincial Hospital in Eastern Highlands Province have been told to resolve their issues and return to work.

Health Minister Michael Malabag has publicly acknowledged the committee of enquiry into Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority, advising those on strike to return to work and provide much needed services to the people.

“I will not let services at the Goroka Hospital continue to be disrupted. If the situation continues to fail to be resolved, I will not hesitate to take further actions

Education gets K40m for rehab works on health schools

HEALTH training institutions will undergo rehabilitation works from a K40 million allocation parked with the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

The K40 million will be directed specifically for maintenance and rehabilitation of all nursing colleges and health workers training institutions, according to Health Secretary Pascoe Kase.

Mr Kase says the expansion of health worker training schools and ongoing quality improvement measures is a significant step forward for the health sector and the people’s well-being.

This is good news for the department and all institutions as rehabilitation work is well overdue.

Furthermore, the Health Department was working closely with training institutions to improve their capacity and quality of nursing, community health workers and midwifery workforce.

Mr Kase said with funding support through the Health Department and government of Australia, there would be an implementation of a comprehensive program of infrastructure rehabilitation, curriculum review, text book and essential equipment procurement, and quality improvement.

At a glance

ISSUE: Nurses at the Goroka Provincial Hospital go on strike after their colleagues were sacked by the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority recently.

HEALTH MINISTER MICHAEL MALABAG: Has publicly acknowledged the committee of enquiry into the authority, advising those on strike to return to work and provide much needed service to the people. He said current issues at the hospital are not an industrial matter, and is also advising the board to reinstate the sacked officers.

RESULTS OF INQUIRY: The inquiry had found that the authority was properly constituted and had been performing its functions in accordance with the authority legislation of 2007.

in the interest of the people of Eastern Highlands Province,” the minister said.

“All staff at the Goroka Provincial Hospital are advised to return to work.

Current issues at the hos-

pital are not an industrial matter.

“The issues are management concerns that the EHPHA board and management have full authority to manage. It is my advice to the EHPHA board that they reinstate the sacked officers to their substantive positions.”

Mr Malabag said the inquiry had found that the authority was properly constituted and had been performing its functions in accordance with the authority legislation of 2007. It found that there had not been any gross breakdown in the administration of the EHPHA, he added.

He said the committee of inquiry found that there had been a breakdown in communication between EHPHA management and staff at the Goroka Provincial Hospital.

The Minister endorsed the committee findings, adding that he was confident in the EHPHA board and management team.

He said the management of Goroka Provincial Hospital and the staff were the responsibility of EHPHA management under the guidance of the board.

“I urge them to resolve the escalating situation at the hospital without delay,” Minister Malabag said.

This would result in significant increases in the number and quality of community health workers and nurses.

FROM LEFT: Representatives from World Vision and the Morobe Provincial TB and leprosy officers receiving boxes of tinned fish from IFC CEO Rosedean Zaily Dzulkfli.

The K40m will be directed specifically for maintenance and rehabilitation of all nursing colleges and health workers training institutions ... PASCOE KASE

Port Moresby

Father held over 10kg bag of marijuana Friendly centre for youths

A FATHER of three involved in smuggling and selling of illegal drugs (marijuana) to raise school fees for his children was arrested and charged by police in Lae last weekend.

The suspect, Steven Maumoni, from Kamtai district in Simbu Province, told police after he was arrested that he was selling the drug to raise school fees for his children.

China Town police acting sergeant Gordon Matafimo said the suspect earlier had an argument with his relatives who gave him away.

Mr Matafimo said his unit went to the suspect’s house and conducted the search and discovered the 10kg marijuana bag hidden under a suitcase. He said the marijuana was neatly wrapped and packed inside the bag.

“The 10 kg bag was hidden amongst the kaukau bags transported from Highlands provinces to Lae,” Mr Matafimo said, and estimated the street value of the drugs at K20,000.

“My elder son is doing grade 9 at Muina high school and I need to find some money to pay for his project fees and other necessities so other two with me in Lae,” Maumoni said.

Mr Matafimo said marijuana has been smuggled into Lae and sold on the streets or shipped to the New Guinea Islands provinces.

Leaders urged to rein in thugs at Five Mile

BY FRANCO NEBAS

ONGOING violence and theft continue to rear their ugly heads despite numerous community pleas and destruction in the FiveMile area of Lae.

The Five-Mile market within the vicinity of Moale service station, which is owned by Mainland Holdings, has become notorious for continuous thefts, bags snatching and even attempted murder by thugs in the area.

Resident Peter Kander told the Post- Courier yesterday that the situation was getting out of hand

At a glance

VIOLENCE: is on the rise despite numerous pleas by community leaders.

AREA: 5 Mile Market within the vicinity of Moale service station, has become notorious for continuous thefts, bags snatching and even attempted murder.

COMMUNITY: has done nothing to help minimise the criminal activities in the area

URGENCY: Community leaders urged to hand in suspects

without any attempt from relevant community leaders or authorities to address the issue.

Mr Kander said in a recent attack, a Rambo-type knife was used to attack a woman who was shopping inside

the Moale retail shop.

The thugs were youths who were drunk with homebrew, he said.

He said one of the youths snatched the woman’s bag containing a purse with a substantial amount of

money and ran past security guards and through the market without being stopped.

“This is one of many incidents involving substantial amount of money stolen by same group of youths from Madang origin and yet the community has done nothing to intervene,” he said.

He said in another incident on Sunday, the same youths held up an East West Transport driver, fought with him, threatened him and made off with his personal items and cash.

The community did nothing to stop the youths. A local security company

responded and assisted the driver to search the area together with the relatives of the woman who was robbed on Saturday.

Community leaders are urged to help minimise violence and damage to property by handing in suspects immediately.

Mr Kander said before there is a repeat of the Nine Mile market incident, where continuous harassment and theft of belongings by thugs led to the death of a man and subsequent destruction of property and lives, community leaders must step in and address the problem.

ENVIRONMENT and Conservation

Minister

John Pundari has committed K2 million to build a district youth-friendly centre that will empower young people in his electorate of Kompiam-Ambum in Enga Province.

He said youths are our future today and tomorrow during the signing of a MOU between NYDA and Kompiam-Ambum district.

“We need to be predictable in a way with how we design our policies that will effectively manage the affairs of our youths, as a way forward.”

Mr Pundari said he was impressed with the detailed presentation by NYDA, and its vision and mission statements, aimed to empower young people in all districts in the country.

A NYDA presentation was made prior to the MOU signing, impressed those present particularly, the District Planning & Budget Priority Committee, comprising the district administrator, LLG presidents, representatives from the Enga Provincial Government including the Department of Rural Development and Monitoring.

As former Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, congratulated acting director general Norit Luio, and team in driving youth vision on behalf of the National Government, in the nation.

“There is a vision in youth policing with the young team at NYDA, who have done a lot of good things for our youths in the country. The end result will ensure our youths become more productive and successful in their own communities.”

He also emphasized during the MOU signing, that a country without youths is not a country, and said the National Government is committed to its vision for young people.

LAE China Town police arrested the suspect (centre) with a 10kg bag of marijuana

Jiwaka gets top treasury course

BY JOHNNY POIYA

MORE than 30 senior public servants in the Jiwaka Province attended a three day capacity building course last week.

The workshop conducted at Molka Lodge in Minj by three officers from the Department of Treasury’s financial accountability and inspection division involved program managers in the new province.

The workshop mainly touched on the key areas of understanding internal controls, risk management and communication and interpersonnel skills.

The facilitating team leader and senior FAID officer Joel Tom said the aim was to get officers to understand the financial controls and mechanisms, risks and management skills in the system for effective services delivery. He said the course was programmed for internal auditors but was open

Higgins is new judge for ENB

BY SAMUEL RAITANO

THE Judicial Legal Services Commission has announced the appointment of Terence Higgins as a new judge of the National and Supreme Court yesterday.

Judge Higgins served as the chief justice of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for 10 years when he retired in 2012. He had a distinguished career in the legal profession and attained his silk as Queens Counsel (QC) in 1987.

He was then appointed a judge of the Federal Court as well as a judge of the Supreme Court of ACT in 1990.

Judge Higgins is the most senior retired non-citizens to be appointed to the bench in PNG.

His appointment brings the total number of judges in PNG to 33, of which he is the sixth

non-citizen judge. According to a statement from the Chief Justices’ office, the PNG judiciary stands to gain immensely from his experience. Judge Higgins will fill the need for an experienced judge in the NGI region and will be based in Kokopo as the third resident judge. Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia welcomed him on behalf of the judiciary of Papua New Guinea.

Judge Higgins was also thanked for accepting the judiciary’s invitation to join the bench in PNG.

Justice Higgins will retire in September 2015 when he attains the initial retiring age of 72.

But he is eligible for reappointment up to age 75.

His appointment was enabled by an amendment made by Parliament in 2010, which

increased the retiring age from 60 to 75. Judge Higgins was sworn in yesterday at Government House in Port Moresby by the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.

ABC News Australia reported in September 2013 that as ACT chief justice Judge Higgins went on to hear some of the most colourful and significant cases in the ACT’s history.

One of the most notable was the civil case over the 2003 Canberra bushfires.

Justice Higgins found New South Wales Government was negligent for not putting out the fires in the first few days, although he found the state was not liable because of a law which exempts fire fighters who have acted in good faith.

In the end the ACT Government settled out of court.

to anybody, especially public servants. The program started in 2008 with workshops conducted in Goroka, Central Province, Lae, Wewak and Mt Hagen on regional basis since then.

“The Jiwaka one is unique as this has been conducted for the province alone, unlike in past workshops which were conducted for all provinces in a region together. This came about following an invitation from the provincial government,” Mr Tom said.

“This is a good workshop which will enable public servants to understand the elements of internal auditing process, the auditor controls, procurement process, asset management, obtaining objectives, identify and manage risks involve that will lead up to services delivery.”

Mr Tom said since 2008, the workshop in Jiwaka was the best so far with the largest number of participants.

COURSE participants with FAID officers Alois Warren (sitting from right) Joel Tom and Mr Karap at Molka Lodge.

SOGERI FEE SCAM

Can the education authorities take note that the Sogeri National High school is issuing threatening notice to the students. The notices is that they will either be suspended or expelled if their parents don't pay the project fees.

Can someone from the Department of Education call the principal of the school and warn him or her to stop w hat he or she is doing, or have them suspended instead.

BRIDGE IN LUFA DOWN

I would like to ask the Minister for Works and the Member for Lufa as to what they have done to fi x the Haigivi Bridge that collapsed, as a result of continuous heavy rain and fl ooding.

The bridge collapsed in September 2014 and to date nothing has been done to replace the bridge. It is unclear what the of fi ce of the MP for Lufa, the District Administration, the Provincial Works of EHP and the DOW are doing to rectify the situat ion. The bridge is in the central part of the district and as such, part of Mt Michael constituency and the entire Unavi constituency of Lufa District (with a total population of about 40,000 people) are cut off from having access to Goroka town. Could the Ministry of Works look into this as a matter of urgency and direct the provincial works of fi ce in EHP as well as our local MP to immediately allocate some funding so that the bridge can be restored and service can resume.

ERIMA FLYOVER IS SILLY

The Erima fl yover which begins on the Jackson airport side is a silly design. It should begin from the west side of the Erima roundabout to ease the fl ow of traf fi c.

Beware of ‘bad’ schools

I HAVE read with interest a letter by Paddy Kelly, director of education of Goroka Grammar School in one of the dailies regarding non-payment of school fee for private schools.

I would like to convey my sincere apology to the management and the director of education of Goroka Grammar School if this has caused any inconvenience. My apology is basically to correct the misreporting in the media, which alluded that I, as the Member for Unggai-Bena “will not be paying school fees for children in my district that attend private schools”.

This is totally not true. My message was not intended for schools like Goroka Grammar and other

private run schools. I must say the Goroka Grammar School is one of the best and I agree with the director, that 90 per cent of them are nationals of which four are my children.

I also agree that grade 12 students from Goroka Grammar do get into higher tertiary institutions such as Unitech, UPNG and others.

I was referring to students who have completed grades 10 and 12, that are trying to take up studies with some of the privately run schools, for instance pilot training and accounting courses. One classic example is at the old Scout Hall in Goroka. We had a pilot training school which attracted students with very

expensive fees ranging between K5000 and K6000. It has come to our notice that after fees were paid to the private school account, the school no longer existed. Someone made a lump sum of money and took off with it. These are the kinds of schools I was alluding to, which had funding from my electorate and those of the hard working parents as well, who had their school fee money for their children stolen. They have set a bad precedence already.

Hon. Benny Allan, MP Minister for Lands & Physical Planning and Member for Unggai-Bena

Fano Karani

Community Leader Central Lufa

discipline

achieve

NCDC advert not malicious

Letter of the day

FRANK Nouairi’s claim of a biased and derogatory advertisement on the smuggling of betelnut into the city needs to be clarified.

From the outset, it must be clearly explained that the advertisement is purely a call to all villagers in Central Province and the National Capital District and to the Gulf Province to stop their involvement in this illegal act of smuggling betelnut into the city. It is not malicious towards the concerned villages as claimed by Nouairi nor is it intended to discredit the good people of Central province, National Capital District in particular the Motu and Koitabuans and the Gulf province.

It must also be emphasised that the advertisement is a recommendation of an investigation by the Commission into possible ways of smuggling betelnut into the city.

The method of the study was through observation and conversations with villagers and true to our expectations, the outcome of the investigation revealed that with the blockade vigorously enforced on land, people are now turning to the sea.

For Nouairi’s information as revealed by the findings, a good number of villagers along the coastline of Central province, the National Capital District and extending to the Gulf Province are now using their dinghies and other motorised vessels to transport betelnut into the city either at the request of outsiders or for their own personal benefit to sell to prospecting buyers at exorbitant costs.

The villagers admittedly know very well that they are engaging in an illegal activity of smuggling but for the monetary benefits they forsake their valuable assets and

their reputation as law abiding citizens to undertake the risk.

Information from the investigations has shown a lucrative hire dealing taking place in the villages between the locals and outsiders for the use of their dinghies to smuggle betelnut into the city.

As discovered, a fee of K1000 is charged across the board for a return trip with bags of betelnut from a coastal village nearby and the charge doubles or triples depending on the distance.

Sadly enough, villagers have opted for this illegal easy money option for the use of their dinghies over fishing which they are known for and very productive at.

Some villagers have been arrested so far. But there are still many more defying the law and continuing to collaborate with outsiders to smuggle in betelnut.

Apart from the findings of the investigation (thus the advertisement), the other factual consideration is the maritime location of the Central and Motu – Koitabu villages and those in the Gulf Province.

This access into the city became strategic for smuggling hence the emphasis of the advertisement on the coastal villages of Central province, NCD and the Gulf Province.

Again, we repeat, the advertisement has no malicious nor any damaging intent but is purely a renewed call by NCDC for the support and co-operation of the coastal villagers to stop outsiders from smuggling betelnut into the city.

Definitely, Motu and Koitabu villagers are exempted from the ban as long it is within the confines of the villages.

Central and Gulf province by virtue of the provincial boundaries are exempted. However, this provision has been grossly abused and the supply of betelnut continues into the city.

Suffice to say, the move to ban betelnut in the city of Port Moresby has been painstakingly considered by the NCDC Board with all due regard for economic and social considerations.

However, a cleaner and healthier environment of our city thus a good image overrides other factors and subsequently the imposition of the ban by NCD Governor Powes Parkop and the City Manager, Leslie Alu, regardless of the political implications, marital connections or family ties nor individual benefit.

Through this forum we ask Frank Nouairi to think beyond the box and to consider the advertisement as a well-intended message to stop this illegal activity of smuggling betelnut into the city, which is happening along the coast.

I hope this clarifies the mis understanding that may have occurred and that the efforts of NCDC for a cleaner, healthier and beautiful city is understood and appreciated by everyone.

Together we can make a big difference in Port Moresby, our city, our home.

Honk N. Kiap Controller – Buai Ban National Capital District Commission

IS THERE A BUAI BAN?

As the days count down towards the Paci fi c Games in July, how can we welcome our visitors in an environment where there is no concern for rubbish? Looking at all our major bus stops in the city (POM), it’s all betelnut husks and betelnut stains everywhere. Is it at all possible for people to be responsibile for their own fi lth? The question is, is the buai ban still on or not? It seems that nothing is happening with the banning of buai.

In relation to the SP Games, do we all want to be an embarrassment in our own nation with this type of attitude?

Singinus Wayne

NGO’S HAVE A ROLE

I felt sad when I read an article ‘ Politics hinder service’ by the reporter (journalist) Grace Salmang (PC 10th March, p 7). The writer summarised Haltmeier words saying ‘politics interfering with the delivery of educational supplies’. Vanimo is a very small town and WSP is very challenging when it comes to providing goods and services due to its geography. The so called ward councillors and LLG presidents in this province must not become like their national leaders and stop NGOs and charity groups from delivering services in the areas they can do like providing educational and medical supplies. They must be allowed to do so as long as they are following the set regulations and criteria put by the education or health departments at the national or provincial levels or the recipient. For instance; a NGO delivering medical supplies to a health facility has to inform the health department at the province and the supplies be inspected by a certi fi ed pharmaceutical inspector and similary, the education department has to be

informed before delivering the supplies. If the NGO or charity group ( in this case the Rotary Club of Kenthurst, Sydney) has followed due process prior to deliveries, then the delivery processes should not be hindered by petty politics. If politics gets into organisations (private or public), NGOs and charity groups in the province, then people in rural areas like Bewani, Amanab, Green River, and Edwaki will continue to suffer in silence. Politicians must understand that providing good and services is a collaborative effort.

STOP THE NONSENSE

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has made a smart move in stopping ground-breaking ceremonies on major government funded projects in the country. His decision will de fi nitely go to save face for many innocent Papua New Guineans, especially the rural people who have been used to stage such labour intensive events. People proudly taking part in ground-breaking ceremonies, with high hopes of receiving long overdue development services, have many times waited in vain. Many of these ceremonies are simply political scorecards, which politicians use to score points against possible potential rivals as well as the future intending political rivals. Mr Prime Minister, I appreciate your move to stop the ground-breaking ceremonies.

Papua New Guinea is now 40 years, so let’s defer the celebrations for the end when government funded projects get completed.

Masen Iningi

10 years ago 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.

Graham Unam Port Moresby

We know that no single institution,

We know that no or group can achieve equality for women in or group can achieve for women in society We have to work together - women society. We have to work - women and men, boys and girls to achieve change. and men, and to

UN Resident Coordinator Roy Trivedy during the opening address of UN Resident Coordinator the address of the PNG Women’s Forum in Port Moresby the PNG Women’s Forum in Port Moresby.

A GUARD keeps watch over confiscated betelnut bags at Laloki checkpoint.

Women’s leadership crucial for growth

BY ALETA MORIARTY, SUZI CHINNERY, BRONWYN TILBURY and KRISTY NOWLAND*

AS the 59th Commission on the Status of Women gets underway in New York, it provides a good opportunity to take stock on commitments made to improve outcomes for Pacific women, particularly in the area of leadership.

In 2012, the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration saw Pacific leaders committing to improve women’s leadership in the region. Since then, there have been some gains.

Women’s political representation has had a modest increase to around 6 percent this year.

Dame Meg Taylor was appointed Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum and Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls appointed chair of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.

Despite this, the Pacific continues to lag behind the rest of the world with some of the lowest participation rates of women in parliament. Supporting women’s leadership in the Pacific is integral to reducing poverty, promoting economic growth and improving governance.

Inequality is holding back development.

Analysis by Dollar, Fisman, and Gatti shows that women leaders are less corrupt than men.

This research showed the

greater the representation of women in parliament, the lower the level of corruption.

Likewise, research by ANU shows that increased women leadership improves economic growth – there is approximately a one percent increase in GDP for every 5 percentage point rise is women’s leadership.

This international evidence is closely aligned with public perceptions in the Pacific.

A perceptions of women in leadership survey of over 1200 people undertaken in Fiji by the Fiji Women’s Forum, with support from the International Women’s Development Agency, shows that the respondents felt that women make excellent leaders due to being hardworking, honest and intelligent.

People felt increasing women’s leadership was a good thing and that having diversity in representation leads

to improved decision making and a better functioning government.

Respondents indicated they perceive women political representatives as: three times less likely to accept bribes than men and three times better at managing budgets.

They also indicated the belief that women leaders are seven times more likely to resolve conflict than men.

Further research conducted in Solomon Islands by Roughan and Wini on voter behaviour towards women candidates before and after the 2014 national general elections also suggests that there is a very high level of support for the idea that women should be in parliament.

However, despite this high level of support, the small number of women in parliament in the Solomon Islands (only three women have ever been elected to Parliament), means that people do not vote for them in sufficient numbers.

The challenge is transforming people’s desire for increased women in leadership to actual results.

Barriers to women’s ability to get elected in the Pacific include a lack of campaign finance, strong gendered cultural perspectives meaning women are held to a different standard to men, and a lack of access to power brokers.

These are just some of the areas where concerted efforts to plug the gaps will help improve women’s leadership.

Other areas for development could include: further leadership training; institutional strengthening; support for women who have been elected and establishing women’s caucuses and support networks.

The Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women (FLOW) program, funded by the Netherlands Government, is supporting women in leadership in the Pacific.

The International Women’s Development Agency is working with partners, including the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, FemLINK Pacific, Bougainville Women’s Federation, Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, Voice for Change, Women’s Rights Action Movement and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum who have been achieving significant results in promoting women’s leadership and decision making.

Since the program began FLOW has directly supported over 2,000 women and has reached more than 20,000 people. This includes the distribution of My Guide to Voting in Fiji, engaging 45 young women in community leadership positions; training 190 young women in leadership; and broadcasting over 5112 hours of community radio by female journalists.

*The authors of this article are Pacific Program Management at the International Women’s Development Agency.

A MOTHER and child from Lake Murray in Western Province.

LILY Tua, a women leader in PNG, addressing a forum for women recently

BAD WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

Maru hits back at K30m misuse claim

MINISTER for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Richard Maru, says Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather’s outburst on the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) project cannot go unchallenged.

He described the allegations raised by Mr Fairweather on the misuse of K30 million allocated for the PMIZ project as unsubstantiated and baseless.

Mr Maru said the seven years delay is attributed to his (Fairweather) actions, supported by his cohorts to stall the project through court injunctions.

He said delay was caused by Mr Fairweather’s instigated court battle against the State in 2012. The court battle led to the project being halted for two years but was later withdrawn.

“The court battle has frustrated the

Union: SOE a ploy for privatisation

THE declaration of state of emergency on electricity services is a disguise for the privatisation of PNG Power, PNG Trade Union Congress said yesterday.

“We have always been under the impression that the invoking of the Essential Services Act (ESA) had more to do with privatisation than debt collection,” general secretary John Paska said yesterday.

“It is evident that ESA has wide ranging powers to deal with any number of issues that affect the normal operations of any institution deemed to constitute an essential service.”

He said what is not immediately clear is whether the ESA was intended to be used for the purposes of privatising itself, an exercise which will adversely affect the normal operations of the provision of power.

Mr Paska said this is a matter which, in our view, requires legal clarification in a proper court of law.

“The 2015 budget papers made clear reference to the ‘sale of state assets’ to offset budget deficits. Upon being sworn in, the Government wasted no time in announcing its agenda on

privatisation. “The PNGTUC has no qualm with the governments development agenda. That is the Governments prerogative. We can say however that in the case of privatisation, PPL employees have expressed serious concerns about what they consider to be the cooperative manner in which it is being bulldozed.”

Mr Paska said executives of PNG Energy Workers Union will be meeting separately with its members to address the issues of concern to them after which appropriate resolutions will be adopted on the way forward and brought before Government.”

“As in any privatisation exercise, there are always serious concerns and consequences, not only for workers but also the private sector and the nation.

“All these need to be tabled and ironed out . It should not be dictated by any time-line put forward by interested contractors who may be salivating on the sidelines to get their greedy hands on any proceeds,” Mr Paska said.

Mr Paska said the privatisation of PPL did not come as a surprise.

Exim Bank of the People’s Republic of China, which resulted in freezing of draw-down of the loan facility.

“Those years wasted on court battles and time taken in reinstating the loan has escalated the cost of delivering this impact project and delayed implementation.

“In doing so, Mr Fairweather’s actions had directly delayed the employment of 20,000 people, denied substantial GST and tax returns for the Madang Provincial Government and denied business spin-offs for the impacted communities among other benefits,” Mr Maru said. He said the K30 million was administered during the tenure of the then government under the previous management of the Department of Commerce and Industry to undertake prerequisites studies and activities.

Water sanitation vital

BY SHIRLYN BELDEN

STRATEGIC partners involved in the National Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) policy have been urged to effectively implement the procedure to save more lives.

Government Minister Charles Abel whose ministry is administering the policy told partners from government and private sector to seriously get involved by implementing their projects that collectively realize the Wash policy which intends to mitigate health and sanitation and social problems.

“It has been years now and we really do not have any excuses PNG. We got to get it right. In the meantime there is really nothing out there. So

we need to move beyond policies and get our hands dirty in order to save lives and improve the health of our country and other social problems that come with it. There is still more to be done,’’ he said.

In a workshop recently in Port Moresby partners from various organisations raised concerns and opinions on how to push for total advocacy and implementation of the national policy.

Mr Abel urged them to consider engaging more education and health aspects to foster a comprehensive process in getting the policy implemented in all rural areas.

The policy focuses on improved service delivery of drinking water, sanitation and long term hygiene.

RAIN is a contributing factor to deteriorating road conditions in Morobe Province. Pictured is a PMV truck bogged at a section of Boana Highway near Gain Primary School in Nawaeb District last Sunday after a little creek beside the road changed its direction and flowed onto the road. The travelling public had to be kept waiting on both sides until the PMV was towed away. Picture: FRANCO NEBAS

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Heavy rain displaces families

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

THE CONTINUOUS heavy downpour in Port Moresby has left properties damaged and families displaced at Morauta-One after a blocked culvert diverted flood water into the community.

Residents who live at Mosquito street – Simeon Kambi, Matthew Kupa and Isaac Joe – turned up at the Post-Courier office to relate their story and called for NCD Governor, Powes Parkop, local Moresby North-west MP Michael Malabag and the disaster office to assist with relief aid.

The three men explained that for the past 10 to 15 years of residing there, they had not seen flooding of such magnitude as when the waters rose to about 2.5 metres in the early hours of yesterday morning. They are concerned for the well-being and hygiene of residents because the flood has destroyed pit toilets leaving people exposed to waste and sewerage.

“We have left our residenc-

es since the water level rose, there is flood water in our houses damaging our properties,” Mr Kambi said.

“The cause of flood is a blocked drain. When a construction company built the Nine-Mile to Gerehu road, they did not fix or put in a proper drainage system.

“When it rains heavily, drains along Waigani, FourMile, Gordon, and Erima are flooded, the water is diverted to the swamps but the small culverts cannot contain large amounts of water, the water finds its way back to us,” He added.

Mr Kambi, who owns a bus and runs his Mountain Mangi Taxi Service and two rental properties, said his tenants have moved out after the flood kicked in.

Mr Kupa, a second-year accounting student and Mr Joe, a fourth-year social works student at UPNG said most students have been affected as school books and laptops have been damaged because the flood took them by surprise.

Community leaders thank govt

FIVE-Mile community leaders in Moresby Northeast declared an enormous change in the mind-set of youths for the better and attributed it to an outstanding government and leadership.

Konz Giano from Chimbu Province, who has resided at Five-Mile for 22 years, said previously, most youths involved themselves in criminal activities, but with the current government’s policy, the community has changed greatly.

“I believe the entire country has changed and people are benefiting from what is rightfully theirs,” Mr Giano said.

He said services provided by the Government, according to health, infrastructure, law and order, and education, has really helped everyone.

He said with the education policy in place, most youths the area have enrolled in technical schools.

A RESIDENT standing in waist-high flood waters that affected the Morata-One community in Port Moresby.

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People told: Embrace change

BY JEFFREY ELAPA

THE people of Kagua Erave in Southern Highlands Province have been urged to change their attitude and embrace changes taking place in the country. Speaking during the launching of the fiveyear development plan of Kagua Erave District, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi and Finance Minister James Marape urged the people to change if they want to see more changes in the district.

Mr Powi challenged the people to stop complaining about their leaders who are trying their best to deliver services.

He said he has appropriated more than K25 million worth of projects for the district over the last two years and urged the people to take ownership and change their attitudes.

“Let’s try and respect each other, respect gov-

Nipa launches development plan

THE little colonial town of Nipa witnessed the biggest celebration when it launched its first five-year development plan last Wednesday.

The development plan, initiative of local MP Jeffery Komal was done in consultation with Oil Search, operator of the oil fields in Southern Highlands Province.

The occasion also coincided with the official launching of 15 major projects initiated by the joint district planning and budget priorities committee under the leadership of Mr Komal.

Among important dignitaries that witnessed the occasion was Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Ministers from Southern Highlands and Hela provinces, including Finance Minister James Marape, Works Minister Francis Awesa, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi, Member for Kagua James Lagea,

Mendi MP De Kewanu, KorobaKopiago MP Philip Undialu and Vice-Minister for Sports and Pacific Games Labi Amaiu.

Important stakeholders who were also present were Managing Director of Mineral Resource Development Authority, Augustine Mano, Managing Director of the National Petroleum Company of PNG, Representatives from Oil Search led by Willie Kupo and other important dignitaries.

It was the biggest celebration, thousands of people from all five Local Level Government areas converged to witness their plan in traditional attires and also to thank Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for the leadership and changes taking place in the district.

The people thanked Prime Minister for the unprecedented changes taking place in the district.

O’Neill thankful for support

BY JEFFREY ELAPA

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill took time to thank Members of Parliament and political parties that make up the coalition government for the continuous support of the People’s National Congress.

He said this during launching of the five-year Nipa-Kutubu District development plan at Nipa in Southern Highlands Province on Wednesday.

Mr O’Neill said his Government was different from previous governments because it has good policies that are working and changing the face of the country. He said previous governments had

made a lot of promises, while the current government is implementing all its promises through the key development pillars and fulfilling election promises as well.

The Prime Minister said his Government’s policies of free-education, free-health, building infrastructure, addressing law and order issues and empowering small to medium enterprises are true policies that are paying off throughout PNG and impacting the lives of people.

Mr O’Neill said the Government will continue to support the good policies through the annual National Budget to build a strong and healthy society.

At a glance

LAUNCH: Launching of the five-year development plan of Kagua Erave District in Southern Highlands Province.

CHALLENGE: Mr Powi challenged the people to stop complaining about their leaders.

EXAMPLE: He urged educated people to lead by example.

ernment properties, embrace development and live a good life,” he said.

The Governor also challenged the educated people of Kagua Erave to lead by example.

Mr Marape said these days everybody wants to be a leader and urged the people to respect those in authority and work with their mandated leaders instead of criticising them.

He said Hela and Southern Highlands provinces has complete leadership and it was time the people accept new developments.

“You want Governor Powi and member James Lagea to deliver service then you have to give up your guns, give up marijuana, give up gambling and alcohol,” he said.

Local MP James Lagea said the people of Kagua Erave were not prepared to accept changes with continuous tribal warfare and other law and order problems in the district. He said as a result, it was difficult for him to deliver services, but the people are starting to change and therefore he was prepared to deliver services.

Mr Lagea said if people want to change him then they can change him in 2017, but now he was still the leader of Kagua Erave District and that there was no vacancy.

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill greeting locals at Kagua station.

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Clean water vital

BY FRANCO NEBAS

PEOPLE of Markham district in Morobe Province will now have access to fresh water supply to their homes and villages.

Minister for Housing and Markham MP Paul Isikiel announced yesterday after a meeting with non-government organisation World Vision.

World Vision was engaged by Mr Isikiel for a water supply project at Sauraun village in Umi/Atzera local level government area.

Mr Isikiel said clean water supply was one of the major problems affecting the people of his electorate.

He said it was very important that World Vision and Markham district work in partnership to deliver water to the people.

“I am prepared to counter fund the project because the outcome of the water supply

in Guguru parish will be a stepping stone for us with the partnership arrangement we are going to have,” he said.

Mr Isikiel also said there were other areas in the Markham plains where people do not have access to clean water and they rely on the main Markham River for cooking and drinking.

He said for a very long time, the Markham people have been using water from the river for cooking and drinking because there is hardly any water in some parts of the electorate.

“For 10 years, nothing has eventuated as far as clean water supply is concern, so as MP responsible, this year I am looking at K5 million for water alone in my electorate,” said Mr Isikiel.

He wants to see clean water supply is accessible by his people from Waterais to Sakiang.

Lutherans pray for Bahamas

THE members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea last Friday congregated at Lae’s Resurrection Lutheran Church to pray for the Bahamas Islands.

Under the church calendar during the first week of March, the members host prayers dedicated to those countries facing problems. This year, the prayer is dedicated to the Bahamas. Sixteen parishes from Yabim district gathered for the prayer.

Group spokesperson Miti Peter said information about the particular country is collected and then put up as prayer points.

“Each of the members are delegated with a point to perform during the prayer,” she said.

Ms Peter said apart from offering prayers, the congregation gives their offering in cash and kind.

“The gifts and the offering collected are given to the Yabim district office to send to the country in need.”

MARKHAM MP Paul Isikiel congratulate World Vision representatives Silven Umbi and Welly Enas cement the partnership for a water supply program.

Bitapaka to have electricity

KOKOPO MP and East New Britain Governor Ereman ToBaining Jr has thanked the people of Tapo in the Bitapaka area of the province for allowing development services to be accessed by the people.

Mr ToBaining thanked members of the Pala Kada clan who have allowed their coconut palms and cocoa trees to be cut down to pave way for the rural electrification program rolled out by Kokopo district.

Power supply will now be extended further to Menebonbon, Birar and Minigir areas.

Mr ToBaining met with members of the Pala Kada clan and all parties recently to iron out the issue.

He said that the leaders showed maturity and wisdom to allow such an impact project, which is set to transform the whole of Bitapaka out of darkness.

He also appealed to the landowners and other stakeholders to take ownership of the project.

Rain, strong winds batter ENB

DISASTER officials in East New Britain have issued warnings to the general public following recent strong winds and heavy rain in the province.

People living along the coastal areas have been urged not to venture out to sea during bad weather conditions while communities living near rivers have been urged to stay away from these waterways during this time.

People have also been advised to look out for falling trees due to strong winds.

Provincial disaster coordinator

Donald Tokunai issued these warnings following current bad weather conditions being experienced in the province and other parts of the New Guinea Islands region and the

country. Mr Tokunai said the ENB provincial disaster office has not received reports of any major disasters caused by heavy rain and strong winds.

However, heavy rain since the weekend has washed mud and debris onto vital roads, affecting motorists.

Trees have also fallen on power transmission and distribution lines resulting in continuous power cuts in the province and PNG Power workers have been working around the clock to remove fallen trees and restore power supply.

There were also reports of food gardens and buildings being destroyed following strong winds and heavy rain in the Lassul area of ENB since last week.

THE Malapau section of the Kokopo Rabaul Road that was flooded following heavy rain in the province early this week

Buses transporting tourists give way to fallen trees at the Blue Lagoon area

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B’ville to run polls on its own

THIS year’s Autonomous Bougainville Government General Election will be historical for the people of Bougainville as it will be run by Bougainville’s own Electoral Commission.

The past two ABG general elections, held in 2005 and 2010, were conducted by the PNG Electoral Commission.

Even though the PNG, Australia and New Zealand electoral commissions are providing technical assistance and support for this year’s elections, the Bougainville Electoral Commission will be taking the leading role in conducting the polls.

Moves for the establishment of Bougainville’s own electoral commission have been spearheaded by current acting commissioner,

Son dissatisfied over father’s burial

BY ROMULUS MASIU

THE process of the retrieval and burial of the remains of the late Mathew Kove, who was killed at Guava village, Panguna at the beginning of the Bougainville crisis has not gone down well with his elder son Peter Kove.

disbursed also included funds for reconciliation costs for such things as transport, food and other preparations.

George Manu. Even though a decision to establish the Bougainville Electoral Commission was made by the Bougainville Executive Council in 2010, this was never achieved until Mr Manu’s acting appointment in 2013.

Mr Manu was tasked to conduct five ABG by-elections, but instead of only concentrating on these by-elections, he decided to also start implementing the Bougainville Executive Council decision on the establishment of the commission.

Apart from managing the processes and the preparations already achieved, the Bougainville Electoral Commission has also produced its own materials, manuals and forms for voter registrations to be used in the elections.

The frustrated son fronted up at our Arawa office and expressed his dissatisfaction at the way the retrieval and burial of the remains were conducted and felt that his father deserved a dignified customary ceremony attended and witnessed by people from various sectors of the Bougainville community.

Late Mr Kove’s remains were retrieved from the jungle and buried at Guava village recently by relatives led by Lawrence Daveona and family.

Peter Kove said he and his siblings have felt marginalised from the initial stages of preparation for the retrieval and burial of their father’s remains. He also expressed dissatisfaction at the manner in which funds were disbursed, specially for the purpose of his father’s remains’ traditional retrieval and burial processes. Funds

Mr Kove said despite the disbursement of more than K200,000 he and his family had no access to these funds to enable them to meet their obligations towards their father.

These funds were given in good faith by the Autonomous Bougainville Government, and other institutions.

“On behalf of my immediate family I would like to know where all this money has gone to,” Mr Kove said.

He said communities around Panguna are now left to ponder when they can get involved in any reconciliation to give the issue surrounding the death of late Kove a final closure.

“The significance of community involvement is based on the fact that the Nasioi ethnic group has traditionally been an extended family based society thus the retrieval and burial of my late father should be a community oriented activity and not done by a minority based on monetary related rituals,” Mr Kove said.

Election preparations on schedule, says Manu

PREPARATIONS for the 2015 ABG

General Election are still on track.

That assurance came from acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu.

“All preparations are on track and I am confident that we will deliver this election according to our schedule,” said Mr Manu.

“My returing officers and I are determined and set to run this election for the people of Bougainville.”

Mr Manu’s assurance now puts to rest the doubts many people have regarding the preparations for the election.

He said even though the Autonomous Bougainville Government was

slow in releasing funding to conduct the election, he is confident the election will still be conducted in accordance with the election schedule.

“The only hiccup we had was the late release of funding to conduct the election. But the Bougainville Electoral Commission is focused on the delivery of this election. Our duty is to conduct the election,” said Mr Manu.

Meanwhile, the acting Bougainville electoral commissioner has commended the ABG for releasing K1. 5 million to the electoral commission last week.

Part of this funding will be used to conduct public scrutiny.

Appeal for registration

ACTING Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu is appealing to all eligible voters in Bougainville to make sure that their names are on the electoral roll.

“I am appealing to all eligible voters to make sure that your names are on the electoral roll so that you will be able to cast your votes in the election,” said Mr Manu.

“It is important that your name should be on the electoral roll. If your name is not on the roll, then you will not be able to vote in the coming election.”

According to the ABG election schedule, the preliminary rolls will shortly be sent back to each districts and constituencies for public viewing this week.

The preliminary rolls consist of names of those that were registered during the field enrolment exercise carried out towards the end of last year. “I am appealing to all eligible

At a glance

REGISTER: In order to vote in the coming ABG election, eligible voters must register themselves.

CHECK: Voters must check with your districts and council of elders for your names.

DEADLINE: Enrolment will not be accepted after writs are issued.

voters to go to your district and council of elders’ offices and village assemblies and check that your name is in the electoral roll.

“If your name is not on the roll or it is on the roll but not spelt correctly, you will be given an enrolment form to fill so that we will enrol your name in the final electoral roll.

“Enrolment will not be accepted once the writs are issued,” said Mr Manu.

PETER Kove, eldest son of late Mathew Kove

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Belgian chocolate group keen on PNG

BY GLORIA BAUAI

THE cocoa industry in Papua New Guinea may soon have a possible link with chocolate companies from Europe, such as The Belgian Chocolate Group, a well-established supplier and exporter of premium chocolate products.

Among the European delegation visiting Papua New Guinea is the Belgian Chocolate Group managing director Marc Pauwels, who has expressed great interest to expand the business to Papua New Guinea.

Pauwels says he has heard a lot about PNG cocoa industry since he arrived in Port Moresby on Sunday and hopes to find good opportunities when the delegation visits the plantations over the next couple of days.

“We are discovering the possibilities and I hope to find good opportunities, first of all to buy cocoa beans and then when quality is good, we intend to invest also for local processing to make from the beans the little we can and export to Europe.

“In the next few days, we’ll see in the fields how the plantations are treated and then we hope we can start to develop locally,” says Pauwels. He says in the past, cocoa beans from PNG were very famous and despite the disease, the knowl-

edge is still there, which he hopes can grow again to a prosperous future. He also says he’s aware of the good economic environment in PNG at the moment with magnificent economic growth over the last years and is looking forward to forming a good partnership.

While thanking the PNG ambassador to European Union Joshua

Kalinoe for the good communication they have, he says that good communication and good cooperation is the base where everything starts, adding that this will give a winning team for the both parties involved.

The European Delegation arrived in the country on Sunday and will be visiting other provinces like

Market Snapshot

New Ireland Province, in the coming days as per their fact finding mission for possible industries to invest in.

Mr Kalinoe who is leading the delegation says PNG has the resources Europe wants to access and hopes this is not the first and last mission, but the beginning of a bigger and better mission to come.

NPCP applauds people of Nipa, Hela

BY JEFFEREY ELAPA

THE MANAGING director of state owned National Petroleum Company of PNG, Wapu Sonk, has commended the people of Nipa-Kutubu and Hela for the support given to the PNG LNG project.

Speaking during the launch of the Nipa-Kutubu five development plan in Nipa on Wednesday, Mr Sonk thanked the people for not hindering the country’s first PNG project

The bottom line

that was successfully completed on time with the first gas exported as early as expected.

Mr Sonk said NPCP, the third largest partner in the PNG LNG project is the state nominee for the project and would also manage all and other upcoming gas and oil projects in the country.

Mr Sonk on behalf of PNG LNG project partners ExxonMobil, Oil Search, Santos and others thanked the people of the provinces for al-

lowing the highway for all trucks and machineries to pass through during the construction phase without hindrance.

He said with the support from everyone, the country managed to set a world record to successfully complete the project on time, on schedule, and on-budget.

He said it was historical because of the difficult terrain that has been overcome to successfully develop a world class LNG project

that has brought revenue into the country.

NPCP recently received a dividend of more than K1.27 billion from the sales of the first LNG project.

Meanwhile, he said that as a corporate organisation and as development partners operating in the Hela and Southern Highlands province, NPCP was ready to assist communities in their development endeavours.

$A drops amid surging greenback

The organic cocoa market represents a very small share of the total cocoa market, estimated at less than 0.5% of total production.

PNG Ambassador to EU Joshua Kalinoe speaking at the welcome reception. Sseated right is Belgian Chocolate Group managing director Marc Pauwels and a delegate. Picture: PATRICK T. WUNDAI

Marengo releases results for exploration drilling at Rima prospect

MARENGO Mining Limited

(Marengo) has announced the results of a recent sampling and drilling program at its Rima Prospect (Rima), as it continues to advance its Yandera copper project (Project) in Madang province.

According to a report released this week, Rima is

located approximately 700 metres to the northwest of the western edge of the Imbruminda resource area that forms part of the Yandera copper project.

Rima was discovered in 2014 while geologists following up on work completed in 2008 and 2009 were mapping and

sampling in creeks west of the Imbrum River.

Marengo said surface sampling of some creeks in the Rima area revealed elevated copper content in grab and channel samples. In late 2014, Marengo completed four drill holes (totalling 1004.6 metres) at Rima in search of higher

grade copper mineralisation to complement the current Yandera resource. The company said the results confirm the presence of higher grade mineralisation, and one of the next phases of work is to constrain its limits.

“The results at Rima are encouraging and suggest the

presence of additional domains of near-surface higher grade copper mineralisation that collectively, may enhance the current Yandera resource,” said chief executive officer Pieter Britz.

“Given these encouraging results, we are not proceeding with the remainder of the

previously announced 10-hole drill program. Rather, we are working towards completion of a more extensive field program during 2015, leading to a more comprehensive drill program in 2016. We remain enthusiastic about the potential of Rima and other similar prospects,” Mr Britz added.

Govt seeks to partner Belgian chocolate firm

THE national Government has offered to partner a major European chocolate manufacturing company to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study to set up a chocolate factory in Wewak, East Sepik Province.

The company will be able to produce high premium chocolate and value added products from organically grown cocoa for both the PNG and global markets under this potential partnership.

Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru met with Marc Pauwels, the managing director of ‘Belgian Famous Chocolates’, who led a European trade delegation to PNG to canvas investment opportunities in the country.

“I am pleased on behalf of the Government to offer to partner your company to jointly fund a comprehensive feasibility study by next month to assess the commercial viability of setting up a fully intergrated cocoa business in East Sepik Province.

The study will include assessing Government land to set up

At a glance

BELGIAN FAMOUS CHOCOLATES: The Belgian Chocolate Group is a Belgian Company and one of the biggest Chocolate producers in Belgium. They produce in two plants in Belgium (located near to Antwerp and Ghent) and export the biggest part of our production. Their brands are currently being sold in more than 80 countries. The company also have a very broad experience in international private label productions.

a cocoa nucleus estate from seed nurseries to planting cocoa on a company owned cocoa estate with extensive support to outgrowers all the way to setting up and building a factory to manufacture cocoa and its by-products,” said Minister Maru.

He said the Government is prepared to contribute 50 per cent of the cost of conducting a full feasibility study and have chosen Wewak in East Sepik Province, considering the province currently produces 16 tonnes of cocoa a year.

Mr Maru told the management of the Chocolate company that PNG is a major producer of very high quality cocoa

beans and the country is now moving away from exporting semi-processed beans offshore and is now embarking on downstream processing.

“We are now looking at processing all our cocoa into final products here in the country,” said Minister Maru.

“Our country has been adversly affected by cocoa prices around the world because globally, we are not a big producer. In terms of the economic value, we think our farmers could earn a lot more with the building of a chocolate factory in the country,” he said.

Mr Maru said in regards to future trading, all raw materials must be processed in the

country but with the full understanding that all our products must be globally competitive.

“We are now looking at partners like yourselves who can come in and partner the Government in establishing a chocolate processing plant in the country to exclusively manufacture chocolate and other value added products to supply both our local domestic needs and the eighty countries you operate in.”

Mr Pauwel said the company travelled into PNG to see if there are investment opportunities in the country and also how their companies can contribute to develop and add value to the cocoa industry in the country.

Mr Pauwel said his company is pleased to offer their expertise to establish factories that will in turn create job opportunities.

He also stressed that not only will they concentrate on the chocolate factory, but they can also look at producing other products such as fertilizers, vinegar and cocoa drinks through the process of fermentation.

European delegates visit PNG Ports team

A GROUP of representatives from high level European investment companies have recently paid a courtesy visit to the senior management of PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL).

The Embassy of Papua New Guinea in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies of Government including the Investment Promotion Authority, organised this high level investment mission to PNG from March 9 to 12 this year.

The delegation included some of the world’s largest seaport development and management and engineering companies such as Rent-A-Port, a Belgium company based in the Port of Antwerp and Royal Haskonging DHV of the Netherlands.

Chief executive officer of PNGPCL, Stanley Alphonse, said he and his management were happy to meet such a high level delegation, and exchange contacts and information on PNGPCL’s business.

“We are happy to provide general information on the development and management of our seaports, including the re-location of the Port Moresby Port wharves to

Motukea,” Mr Alphonse said. Apart from scheduled group meetings, the PNG Ambassador to European Union Joshua R Kalinoe requested for PNGPCL management to meet the delegation separately. Mr Alphonse said the separate meetings with Rent-A-Port and

Royal Haskonging DHV helped PNGPCL understand their business interests and provided management the opportunity to provide an overview of the seaport development plans in place for implementation, both in the short and long term.

PNGPCL staff and part of the European delegation pose for a group photo after meeting yesterday at the PNGPCL Head Office, Port Moresby

HPL inspects Ramu mine

A JOINT venture partner in the Ramu nickel mine in Madang, Highlands Pacific Limited (HPL), last week did a general inspection on how the mine plant and the equipment are maintained and operated.

HPL general manager projects, Peter Jolly and consultant Steve Chadwick spent a few days carrying out inspection at the Ramu NiCo mine plant at Butua covering the mobile maintenance workshop, the beneficiation plant, the chromite separation plant and other technical areas with a specific intent of seeing how the plant and equipment is maintained.

Mr Jolly explained that following the inspection they will produce a high level report which is meant to be consultative and helpful to the operation.

“Highlands Pacific is a joint venture partner and has an interest in seeing the plant running well and producing maximum output at minimum cost,” he said.

HPL’s advise in terms of technical

improvements and operations will complement MCC-Groups recent requirement towards Ramu NiCo Project to improve its technical capabilities and its aim to be one of the competent nickel/cobalt producers in the world.

In the past, HPL had used other consultants to perform similar exercises both at KBK Mine and Basamuk Refinery.

Mr Jolly said HPL’s capacity as a JV partner is to make regular visits to both KBK Mine and Basamuk Refinery to inspect progress and offer help and advise where appropriate.

During general inspection, Mr Chadwick, who is a metallurgist, found that Ramu NiCo KBK Mine operation is achieving its desired outcomes and the equipment chosen is conducive for the mine’s successful operational. However, their report would point towards various potential improvements in planning and spare parts control.

Rio, BHP slam Fortescue over supply

PERTH,: Australia’s largest iron ore producers Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have rounded on rival Fortescue Metals Group as they fend off accusations of flooding the market and hurting local producers.

Fortescue chief executive Nev Power in February publicly attacked Rio and BHP for increasing iron ore supplies while prices tumbled.

But Rio Tinto’s iron ore boss Andrew Harding has hit back, blaming Fortescue for increasing the global glut of iron ore.

“Rio Tinto, of the top three suppliers out of Western Australia, is the third largest increaser of supply in the market and FMG are actually the largest,” Mr Harding told reporters at an industry conference in Perth.

His counterpart at BHP, Jimmy Wilson, also singled out Fortescue, the nation’s third biggest producer, for flooding the market.

“FMG is the most prolific grower,” he said.

“Who knows where FMG’s going to go to.” - AAP

CONSULTANT Steve Chadwick and Highlands Pacific general manager Projects, Peter Jolly (left) doing a general inspection at Ramu NiCo KBK mine in Madang.

Pacific isles brace for Cyclone Pam

SEVERAL Pacific nations are bracing for heavy rains and strong winds as a tropical depression is officially upgraded to a category two cyclone.

Fiji’s Na Draki weather service said Cyclone Pam was about 1,000 kilometres north of Nadi and would bring strong winds and heavy rain.

“It’s already starting to affect northern Vanuatu and the eastern Solomons,” said meteorologist Neville Koop.

“But here in Fiji, by about late Wednesday and Thursday, we will see very heavy rain commence and continue through Friday and Saturday.

“But there is still a risk we could see the actual eye come closer to Fiji.”

Mr Koop said Cyclone Pam had the potential to develop into a severe category four or five system.

“Heavy rain and flooding, with hopefully the eye of the cyclone passing over waters to out westthat’s probably the best that we can hope for.”

The Fiji Meteorological Service has forecast Cyclone Pam to intensify into a category 3 system in the next 24 to 36 hours.

“[Cyclone Pam] is expected to track to the southwest of Fiji,” the service said on its website.

“On its projected path, Tropical Cyclone Pam is expected to lie

about 800km north-west of Nadi at 8:00am [local time] on Wednesday morning.” Authorities in Fiji have begun making preparations for the impending cyclone and resulting rains and floods.

The Disaster Management Office said it expected most residents to be prepared after having been through the devastation caused by Cyclone Evan in December 2012.

The office’s acting director, Akapusi Tuifagalele, said authorities should keep informing residents “to be alert and to be aware that it [cyclone] can be bigger than the last time”.

Mr Tuifagalele told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program there were concerns about infrastructure damaged by the impact of Cyclone Evan.

“Although we have done most of our rehabilitation and reconstruction, there’s still some left to be done and in this kind of situation where we have a repeat nature of natural disasters like this Cyclone Pam that is moving towards Fiji,” he said.

“We would expect some of our infrastructure to be taken to task in terms of either the intensity of the wind or the flooding.

“We would expect some of our roads to be closed the bridges to be washed out and then to be repaired and reconstructed again.” – ABC

NZ blackmailers issue infant milk formula

NEW Zealand police are investigating blackmail threats made against dairy processor Fonterra.

The threats were made as part of a campaign to stop the use of agricultural pesticide 1080 in New Zealand.

New Zealand police said that anonymous letters were received by Federated Farmers and Fonterra in November 2014, accompanied by small packages of milk powder, which subsequently tested positive for the presence of a concentrated form of 1080.

The letters threatened to contaminate infant and other formula with 1080 (sodium monoflouroacetate) unless New Zealand stopped using it for pest control by the end of March 2015.

“We have tested just over 40,000 raw milk and product samples and we have had no 1080 detections,” said a statement from the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries.

“New Zealand’s food safety model is among the best in the world.”

New Zealand is the world’s leading dairy exporter.

NZ Prime Minister John Key said his advice was that it was extremely unlikely that anyone could deliberately contaminate formula during the manufacturing process and there was no evidence that this had ever occurred.

“It was the government’s intention to inform the public of this threat next week,” he said.

“As you know from police, the blackmailer had threatened to go public at the end of March.

“But the first priority of the police was to carry out a thorough inves-

tigation and we needed to work with the industry to protect the supply chain before the public was informed.”

Deputy Commissioner of National Operations with NZ Police, Mike Clement, said the threat may be a hoax, but must be treated seriously.

In a release to the stock exchange, Fonterra NZ said that the New Zealand Government had advised that there was no health risk to consumers. Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said the criminal threat targeted New Zealand and the entire dairy industry.

He said Fonterra had begun its own testing regime in mid-January as a further assurance of product safety, tasting every tanker of raw milk.

“We can fully assure our customers and consumers that all of our milk and products are safe and of high quality, and our supply chain continues to be secure and worldclass,” Mr Spierings said. – ABC/AFP

Blackmailers have threatened to poison NZ infant milk formula. Picture: ABC

Families back from deathrow visit

FIVE members of the Chan and Sukumaran families have returned to Cilicap in central Java, after visiting the two Australian drug smugglers on death row.

It was the families’ first visit to the men since they were moved to the prison island of Nusakambangan.

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have spent six days on Nusakambangan since their much-criticised high-security transfer from Bali last week.

Family members followed the pair from Denpasar to Cilacap but had not seen them for seven days, after Chan’s girlfriend and his brother were denied access to the pair’s Bali prison just minutes before the transfer.

The relatives spent more than four hours on Nusakambangan talking to the two prisoners. When they returned, they offered no comment on the condition and mindset of the pair. They intend to pay another visit to the island today (Wednesday).

Yesterday Chan’s brother Michael and Sukumaran’s brother Chinthu spoke to assembled media before visiting the prison.

“It’s been a few days, so you know, we are just looking forward to seeing them when we get over there, to give him a hug,” Michael

Chan said. “We’re just going to see how the boys are ... “

“We’re also looking forward to it,” Chinthu Sukumaran said.

“My mum, sister and I have been counting down the days. We’ve been told he’s doing well.

“We want to see it for ourselves and make sure and see him to let we know that we love him.” Chan and Sukumaran have only

been allowed visits from Australia’s consul-general to Bali, Majell Hind, and Australian lawyer Julian McMahon under the terms of an international convention Diplomats and lawyers worked to secure the family visits on a general visit day for all the prisoners in the various compounds on the island. Approved visitors are permitted on Mondays

and Wednesdays.

Consular staff heading into and out of the Cilacap port were enveloped by media, though diplomats did not expect that to happen today because the families appeared to have secured access to drive their cars into the port area.

The family members boarded a wooden boat for the 400-metre journey across to Nusakambangan.

Multiple members of each family were allowed to go to Nusakambangan and spent up to four hours there.

Peter Morrissey, a lawyer for the men, said it was an emotional time for the pair and their families.

“The Indonesian authorities, generally speaking, are very humane about the way in which visits are conducted and we expect that they’ll be allowed to have

contact in peace and spend time together,” he said.

An Indonesian court will hear an appeal on Thursday from Chan and Sukumaran against president Joko Widodo’s refusal to grant them clemency.

Tony Spontana, a spokesman for the country’s attorney-general, said the executions would be on hold until all legal avenues were explored.

“We also pay attention and give respect to the legal process that is currently occurring,” he said.

The Administrative Court last month dismissed a bid to challenge Mr Widodo’s decision, saying clemency was the president’s prerogative which it had no right to overturn.

Sukumaran and Chan’s lawyers lodged an appeal against that dismissal and were awaiting judgment.

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

“The reason for the rejection of clemency was unclear, when we had been very clear why these two deserved clemency.”

Sukumaran and Chan were sentenced to death in 2006 for a plot to smuggle heroin into Australia. – ABC/AFP

FAMILY members of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran took a boat to visit the Nusakambangan prison.Picture: AFP/ ABC

French sports stars killed in chopper crash

A GROUP of French sports stars participating in a reality TV show were among 10 people killed when their helicopters collided mid-air while filming in Argentina.

Champion sailor Florence Arthaud, 57, Olympic gold-medal swimmer Camille Muffat, 25, and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine, 28, were among those killed.

The two helicopters were filming the survival series Dropped when they crashed into each other in the rugged mountains of La Rioja province, a scenic area popular with tourists, around 1,100 kilometres north of the capital Buenos Aires, local officials said.

Police said the victims were eight French nationals and two Argentine pilots. La Rioja provincial government spokesman Horacio Alarcon said the helicopters appeared to have flown into each other.

“Apparently, the two helicopters collided as they were filming. There are no survivors,” he said.

Mr Alarcon said the weather conditions were good but the exact cause of the collision was unknown.

The cast had been filming in the remote and rugged region of Quebrada El Yeso and Quebrada Condado.

Argentine media had shown wreckage of the two helicopters in flames

on the dry scrubland.

A local radio station said there had been five people in each helicopter. Dropped, which was to air on French television channel TF1, involved eight sports stars being dropped into inhospitable environments for an adventure- and survival-themed reality show.

“We’ve got people who are way beyond average for their record of achievements, that’s clear,” the show’s presenter, Louis Bodin, said of the series in a recent interview with French radio station RTL.

“And we can tell that on the ground, on all kinds of terrain, that they’ve got the ability to adapt.

“Of course, the logistics, the conditions are sometimes a little complicated.”

TF1 issued a statement expressing sadness and solidarity for the families of the victims.

The other stars participating in the show were swimmer Alain Bernard, cyclist Jeannie Longo, footballer Sylvain Wiltord, snowboarder Anne-Flore Marxer, and figure skater Philippe Candeloro.

None of them were among the victims. In a statement, French president Francois Hollande said: “The sudden death of our fellow French nationals is a cause of immense sadness.” –AFP/ABC

Nato: Russia massing weapons in Crimea

KIEV: Russia has vastly enhanced its military capabilities in Crimea since annexing the peninsula, turning it into a “power projection platform”, a senior NATO general has reportedly said.

“What we’ve seen is easy to describe as the militarisation of Crimea,” the alliance’s top commander for Europe, General Philip Breedlove, said in an interview with Ukrainian channel 1+1.

“They’ve brought an air capability, they’ve increased their capability to project sea power from there,” he said.

“We see very capable surface-to-air defence systems that range about 40 per cent of the Black Sea and we’ve seen very sophisticated missile defence systems that range almost the entire Black Sea.”

“Crimea has become very much a power projection platform,” he said in an interview broadcast in Ukrainian on Sunday evening, of

which AFP has obtained the original English version. Russia annexed Crimea after deploying soldiers to the peninsula in late February 2014. The troops took control of the territory, seizing Ukrainian ships and military bases, while the authorities organised a referendum that demonstrated overwhelming support for the province joining Russia.

Although Putin initially denied that any Russian troops were involved in the takeover, he later conceded their presence.

On Sunday, in a preview of a film about Crimea on state channel Rossiya-1 Putin revealed that he ordered his security chiefs to “return” the peninsula to Russian rule as early as February 23.

Ukraine’s government, which has also been battling a bloody pro-Russian insurgency in the east of the country, accuses Moscow of massing forces in Crimea across the de-facto border from its Kherson region.

FROM left: French sports stars Camille Muffat, Florence Arthaud, and Alexis Vastine who died in a mid-air helicopter crash while filming a TV reality show in north-western Argentina. Picture: AFP/ABC

NRSC: Smooth tyres a hazard in wet season

BY DIANNE WAKETSI

WITH heavy rains in the capital vehicle owners have been warned to make sure their vehicles are road worthy before they are put on public roads. Smooth tyres and faulty head lights are a main cause of road accidents this time of the season and safety of your passengers is paramount.

National Road Safety Council Chief Executive Officer Nelson Terema says safety of the travelling public is important and it is important for drivers to be always safety cautious during this season.

“Make sure vehicles are registered, smooth tyres are changed, all vehicle lights are working and you are always carrying the proper documents in your vehicle like a valid licence,” said Terema.

He added that drivers in PNG had a serious attitude problem that needed to be changed.

“Road blocks are conducted everyday so that law breakers are caught and penalised,” he added.

Terema stated that vehicle owners must comply with rules and regulations so that accidents can be avoided.

HEAVY rain in Port Moresby for the past two days has caused flooding on roads in a number of public roads. The rains have caused soil and debris to be washed away causing major blockage to drainage systems.

RAIN FLOODS CITY ROADS

A VEHICLE being impounded by NRSC of fi cers for having smooth tyres.

Logistics centre opens in Lae

ELA Motors continues to improve its business commitment to Papua New Guinea and this was evident with another historical landmark with the grand opening of the brand new state of the art Lae Logistics Centre.

On Saturday, March 7, 2015, the Lae Logistics Centre located at East Taraka, was officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations Leo Dion.

The Lae Logistics Centre is an all-in-one facility for Logistics that will house 3 core functions of the company which previously were spread across a number of sites.

The facility includes the National Distribution Centre (NDC) for parts and Yamaha stock, a vehicle Bond Yard for 300 units and a further holding area for up to 320 vehicles.

The facility encompasses the latest in technology with the highest level of security including an IT communications system, Wi-Fi for the NDC live barcode scanning and Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) functions and site electronic access, electric fencing and security camera monitoring system.

Lae Logistics Centre commenced business last December. The NDC warehouse has 2 container receiving bays and 4 container dispatching bays. The parts and shelving system has been laid out to provide the ultimate efficiency. The Bond Yard, PDI and Vehicle parking allocation and processing has been modeled from Toyota Tsusho Corporation best practice solutions. Staff facilities include a canteen with state of the art kitchen facilities, lavatories and shower amenity and laundry facilities.

The Bond yard parking can cater for 260 cars to 40 trucks and the Holding area parking can hold up to 300 cars to 20 trucks and the general parking can accommodate 70 cars to 6 trucks.

Ela Motors now has a leading edge with the state of the art facility that is unique to the South Pacific region providing continuous business well into the future of Papua New Guinea.

In attendance to celebrate another Ela Motors achievement was the Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and his government delegates.

In addition, was a team from Toyota Tsusho Corporation led by the executive officer of the Automotive Division Naoki Takeuchi, the team from Toyota Tsusho South Pacific office in Brisbane and the senior management and staff of Ela Motors led by the chief operating officer Takeshi Abe.

Overheating damages engines

AN OVERHEATING engine is more than a bummer, it can be an expensive engine killer that will leave you on the side of the road, then on to the repair shop for an expensive repair bill.

If your car has been running hot, you know the feeling.

You’re sitting in traffic, the light turns green, and you pray that traffic breaks enough for you to get some air flowing over the radiator so that engine temperature needle will go down just a little bit. It’s beyond stressful, and there’s no reason you should be forced to endure this.

The fact is, there are only a few things that commonly cause an engine to overheat regularly.

Low Coolant By a large margin, the most common cause for engine overheating is simply a low coolant level. Your engine’s cooling system relies on coolant to circulate and remove heat from the engine. If you don’t have enough coolant in there to do the job, heat will build up and your engine will overheat. No amount of running the heater in the summer will help if you don’t have enough coolant in the radiator to transfer that heat.

More tips to avoid overheating in next issue

DEPUTY Prime Minister Leo Dion (middle), Morobe Governor Kelly Naru, second left, cut the ribbon to launch the new Lae Logistics Centre while managing director and CEO TTPNG Shigeru Ito (right), and chief operating of fi cer Takeshi Abe (left) looks on with successor managing director Yoshiaki Kato (second from right).

The all new Sonataelegant, powerful

SMOOTH, elegant and powerful - All New Sonata All-New Sonata comes with all the luxurious touches and elegance you’d expect, along with the exhilaration of knowing there’s some serious grunt under the hood.

The sleek, aerodynamic lines lend All-New Sonata an athletic, muscular edge that hints at the responsive power contained within, while its un-

deniable style and elegance are there for all to admire.

Designed with the driver in mind

The All-New Sonata’s interior has been designed with Human Machine Interface’s Safety, Simplicity, and Intuitiveness as its guiding principles. The result is a vehicle that is easier and safer to operate, with an abundance of new technologies and features within easy reach.

Generously equipped and highly advanced, seamlessly-integrated technologies make driving the All-New Sonata easier, safer and more enjoyable, and create a new benchmark for what is included as standard in a mid-size sedan.

Power To Enjoy

Even though you may spend most of your time driving in the city, All-New Sonata comes with the reassurance that, when you’re out on the open road, there’s some serious power under the bonnet, just waiting to be unleashed.

A Tale of Two Engines

In the All-New Sonata GL variant, you’ll enjoy the 2.0L Turbocharged GDI engine that delivers a satisfying 180kW of power (at 6,000 RPM) and 350m Nm of torque (at 1,400 - 4,000 RPM), with a fuel economy of 9.2L/100km*.

While the all-New top of the range Sonata GSL harnesses a powerful 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 4-cylinder engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that provides a superior balance of performance and fuel economy of 8.3L/100km* in local driving conditions. Rated at 180kW/350Nm, the new turbo engine delivers 30 per cent more power and over 45 per cent more torque than the revised entry-level mill.

Super Smooth Transmission

Both variants are paired with an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic transmission, offering a lock-up torque converter for enhanced efficiency, as well as a sequential manual shift mode (activated through the gear lever) for drivers who prefer a sportier driving experience.

Australian Tuned

The hardware and software of the MDPS system have been further developed and improved in Australia to eliminate shaking and ensure smooth steering and stable handling, no matter how harsh the driving conditions get - and we get some harsh conditions!

No

Short Cuts To Safety

At Hyundai, there are no compromises when it comes to safety. All our vehicles are created using the most advanced technology to ensure passengers will get the optimum protection in any situation. Given the comprehensive active and passive safety features that come as standard, it’s no surprise that All-New Sonata has been given the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating. The All-New Sonata is equipped with a comprehensive 6-airbag safety system, including driver and front passenger airbags, front and rear curtain airbags and front side airbags to help protect you and your passengers should you be involved in a crash.

The ultra high-tensile strength steel used in All-New Sonata is a high performance, special steel alloy applied to safety-critical areas of the body shell, where additional reinforcement is required. The benefit is superior crash-worthiness.

Now you can Look Forward To Reversing

The rear-view camera activates when reverse is selected, so you can see where you’re going on the LCD multimedia screen. Four rear-mounted sensors help to keep you on track, resulting in perfect parking every time.

The new Sonata GSL has every bell and whistle you could want in this segment, but I think the mid-spec Elite is the sweet spot in the Hyundai Sonata’s three-model-grade range. The GL gets the boosted engine, which is way too much fun not to have, and enough goodies to make you feel like you’ve bought a more expensive vehicle. The all Sonata is an impressive all-rounder, with way more interior space than you expect and driving dynamics that some far more expensive cars can’t quite match.

*Source: Australian Design Rule 81/02 static laboratory combined average for city and highway cycle test. Fuel consumption will vary depending on combination of driving habits and the condition of the vehicle.

Solution to puzzle SL0869

stars

ARIES

March 20 - April 19

As an Aries, you often complain things are moving too slowly. But the events triggered by this week’s potent aspects involving your ruler Mars, Jupiter and Uranus as so fast-paced even you are having trouble keeping up. Don’t worry about the details. Just ensure others are aware what interests you.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 19

It’s impossible to underestimate the impact of the planetary activity of the first half of March on you, on others and on the world. While it’s reshaping events, it will also have a powerful influence on relationships, especially those that have become routine. This period’s about change. The more, the better.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Usually both the heightened feelings and changes triggered by the Full Moon take place beforehand. Last week’s accented the structure of your life. Since this triggered a few surprises, you’re still experiencing both emotional and practical fallout. Invest time in dealing with these. You’ll be surprised how much you learn.

CANCER

June 21 - July 21

Often sudden changes are due to carelessness. But judging by the planetary set up during the middle of this week, the odds are slim that even the simplest of arrangements will last long. Knowing that, ensure whatever you organise is flexible enough it won’t just ride out changes, but will benefit from them.

LEO

July 22 - August 22

Standing up to somebody who you know is difficult holds no fear for you. However, you’ve so much to do that you’ve no time for their dramas. Still, since you can’t ignore their bad behaviour for much longer, you’ll need to ensure any battles are brief and to the point.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

Usually, disagreements are exactly that, differing views. But now issues seem more complex. They are. In fact, judging by the current planetary activity involving the underhand Pluto, somebody is keeping vital information under wraps. When asked about it, they become aggressive. Wait and watch. Soon it will all make sense.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

Obviously you’d rather know the facts than base decisions on falsehoods. Yet, judging by the current aspects involving truthful Pluto, what you’re about to learn could be sufficiently unsettling that you must question both plans and your priorities. At the same time, these insights will explain puzzling events in the past.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 22

Few things upset you more than the discovery somebody has been hiding the facts from you. While that may be true, instead of brooding about it, ask them why. You may worry they’ll be deceptive. But their answer will be so clear and logical that you’ll be thankful you spoke up.

November 23 - December 22

Sometimes unimportant squabbles are no more than that. However, with so much changing, and mostly for the better, even seemingly unimportant differences could reveal facts you’ve got wrong. Knowing that, should seemingly simple mistakes arise, delve into them, your intention being to spot minor misunderstandings before they become major ones.

December 21 - January 19

Good fortune can appear in many forms. Because the planetary activity of March’s first half is as chaotic as it is beneficial, what’s best may not seem that way, at least initially. Knowing that, you’ll want to explore every idea or offer. You’ll be amazed what turns out to be worth pursuing.

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

Not too long ago somebody asked you to do them a favour. They explained what it was, you said you would and did your best. Since then, you’ve heard nothing. Stop worrying that your efforts went wrong or were unappreciated. The individual in question hasn’t thanked you because they’ve no manners.

Manalos scrape through

BY FRANCO NEBAS SOFTBALL

Kerowagi league affiliates to PNGRFL

RUGBY LEAGUE

THE Kerowagi Rugby Football League (KRFL) in the Simbu Province has now affiliated with the PNGRFL for the 2015 season.

Simbu now has three affiliated leagues, Kundiawa and Suwai in the Sina Sina Yogumugl District, plus Kerowagi Rugby League in the Kerowagi District.

They now have the opportunities to expose their hidden talent to the remote parts of

the province. The crazy rugby league followers in the Kerowagi District will now have their own competition, just like any other affiliate around the country for a change.

It is a milestone achievement for the Kerowagi rugby league players and supporters who enjoy and love the game.

It has also provided a wonderful opportunity for the Kerowagi District to actively participate in programs and competitions organised and

facilitated by the PNGRFL.

There will be eight teams taking part in this year’s competition. The return of the prodigal son is now the sponsor and founder of the KRFL, Gibson Siune said sport has an incredible power to help change lives for the better.

“Therefore, rugby league in the district will be used as a vehicle to develop, empower, and enable disadvantage youths in the district to find some meaning to life, and be able to transform the lives of

thousands of young people in the district,” he said.

Siune further said that through the game young men and women will be educated on a range of topics to not only make them better athletes but better people as well. He highlighted several awareness programs including, alcohol management (home brew and steam), illicit drugs (marijuana) and mental health.

The KRFL will facilitate programs to educate players

Wanderers reclaim Agmark 9s Cup

RUGBY LEAGUE

A DEFENSIVE Boroko

Motors Wanderers outfit completely shut out Warangoi Razorbacks

to reclaim the 2015 Agmark rugby league 9’s Cup with a 16-0 win at the Kalabond oval on Sunday.

In the qualifying semi final play offs earlier

in the day, the Razorbacks defeated Lisko Eagles 18-14 while the Wanderers thrashed Foreign Baths 24-0 to set up the grand-final.

The Hoodsco boys lead by Gurias player/ coach Albert Patak, Nelson Daplen, Emmanuel Toide and Eliakim Lukara literally outplayed their opponents from Sinivit

through their speed, agility, strength and endurance throughout the contest.

Wanderers first of three tries was scored in the first half by Lukara to lead by 4-0 at halftime.

In the second stanza

Wanderers continued their dominance in the game scoring two converted tries through

Lukara and Elison Daplen to seal the match in their favour to reclaiming the Agmark Cup and a major cash prize of K9,000.

The Razorbacks settled for the runners up cash prize of K3,000.

Young Guns picked up the Plate plus K2000 cash with runners up cash prize of K1,500 went to Lions Crew.

The Bowl final went to Kinebot Jets and K1000 cash prize. The runners up cash prize of K500 went to Hardware Hammerheads. In two weeks time Kalabond will host the NGI Trukai 9’s with teams coming from major leagues in the NGI region.

Rebels pick up Hela gold pass

BY ANDREW ALPHONSE RUGBY LEAGUE

NEW team Lewako Rebels are the Hela Leg Golden Pass winners of the 2015 Coca Cola Ipatas Cup (CCIC) rugby league challenge.

The lads from Tari town beat Ipa Hulia Cowboys from the neighboring Komo Margarima district 11-7 in the grand final played at the Koroba rugby league ground last Tuesday to get the K10 000 gold pass to advance to the finals playoffs against other zones in Lae next month.

Six teams took part in the three-

day competition at Koroba. The teams included Rebels from Tari, Cowboys, Teku Eels, Nokenis and Sharks from Koroba plus last year’s Hela Leg champions the Strickland Raiders.

Rebels led by current and former Digicel Cup Hela Wigmen players Johnson Hawiya, Phillip Jerome, Chris Lai and Paul Ngawe backed by a bunch of untapped local talents including Gideon Takayu, Bom Bijare, Hari Kerema, Nathan Lai, Moses Angobe, Bruce Jerome, Junior Alex, Terry Waip, Manu Hapolo, Paul Tumbiako, Manu Henry, Sobo Alungi, Tony Pawa

and Roy Amos went through the tournament undefeated to bag the Hela title.

They beat Koroba Sharks 6-4 on Saturday, KKC Nokenis 10-8 on Sunday and Strickland Raiders 12-8 on Monday to meet the Cowboys in the decider. Koroba Lake Kopiago MP Phillip Undialu was the guest of honor and officiated at the games.

Undialu commended the CCIC executives for having the faith in little leagues like Koroba to host the country’s premier and prestigious off-season game for the second season in Koroba.

from junior levels to senior level on the dangers and realities of illicit drug use in the district and country as a whole, he said.

“Players will be informed about the consequences of their actions and the harmful use of the drug can cause on their health and wellbeing as well as relationships,” he added.

Again, the KRFL will also assist players and their immediate family to have access to a counselling service.

MANALOS narrowly escaped with a 9-8 victory over a much fancied Gorgor to secure the grand final spot in the Manus Softball Association men competition. While in the women division, Gazelle outclassed Gorgor for a 18 -16 victory in a tight encounter to keep the supporters on their toes. In the men’s, Manalos hurler Bryan Pee was up to his class leading his young chargers in the likes of Apolos Tobel, Nathan Gebob and Alison Pilai that kept Gorgor at bay from the first inning. Gorgor Golzy Tokiel, Eddie Petrus and Pitcher Feda Poiou tried all the tricks in the book to cause the upset of the round, but tight fielding and superb batting by Manalos denied Gorgor of any possible victory. Gorgor reacted in the third and fourth inning but lacked batting power in the last inning to see Manalos recording the last run in their last turn at bat to win by a point. They now look set to meet Gazelle in the Manus Softball Association maiden grand final after a 30 year layoff. In the women’s affair Gazelle sent Gorgor packing by a two point victory 18-16 in the first encounter of the day. Gorgor inform pitcher Wendy Bohu was the notable absence in the team’s line up to see Gazelle coming home comfortably. Lack of batting power and coordination in the field of play was the telling factor in Gorgor’s defeat. The grand final showdown will see Manalos taking on Gazelle while in the women’s division Trans Los Negros face of Gazelle as well.

Kerowagi RFL founder and sponsor Gibson Siune (right) hands over the registration papers to Highlands Confederate director Joe Tokam as PNGRFL directors Horta Boski, Gwaibo Mairi and staff member Wendy Kohun witness the occassion

WINNERS of the Agmark 9s, the Boroko Motors Wanderers

Lae to come alive with 9s

RUGBY LEAGUE

THE inaugural Championship RFL9s will be staged at the Lae Rugby League Oval this weekend.

The two-day tournament will attract the biggest and best teams to participate in the shortened version of the 13 man game.

Unlike the 13 man game, nine-a-side version is a more skillful game played nine minutes a half, at blistering pace.

PNGRFL board chairman Sandis Tsaka initiated the 9- a-side tournament which has now given rise to the Inaugural Digicel Super 9s series.

The Digicel Super 9s series act as the qualifying rounds played in each region to reward the Cup grand finalist teams a berth in the Championship RFL9s this weekend.

The eight RFL affiliates will lock horns with semi-professional teams from the Digicel Cup, plus two invitational teams being the Queensland Kokomos from Brisbane, Australia, Rovanama from Port Moresby and an NGI select side.

The Queensland Kokomos is a league affiliated to the QRL which is made up of PNG residents living in Queensland who come together once a year to play a few weeks of rugby league.

The team will be coached by legendary former Kumul Elias Paiyo and features a likely lineup of Steven Franciscus, Richard Tengdui, Alexander Ambia, Shaun Wickham, Germaine Kaskol, Harry Lohia, Ojay Moka, Shadrach Ghabilha, Solomon Dawainicura, Francis Han, Anthony Seeto, Joseph Seeto and Richard Pandia.

The past four weekends the PNGRFL had played host to the Digicel Super RFL 9s, kicking off its inaugural leg on February 14-15 at Kwikila station, Central Province, then at the Rebiamul oval in Mt Hagen, the third leg in Madang and the lastly the NGI leg was played in Kimbe over the weekend.

Tsaka was happy that the Digicel Super 9s had completed its four Circuit’s successfully to determine the two Cup grand finalists as qualifiers.

The tournament will feature 20 teams in five pools of four teams.

The qualifying teams from each of the four legs are Port Moresby Southern Blacks and Irupara GK (Southern Region), Hagen Doa and Goroka School Boys (Highlands Region), Duban Fox and Morobe Tigers (Northern Region), Kimbe Development Side and Kavugara Royals (NGI Region).

Two wild card entries include Wewak RL and a NGI Select Side.

The Digicel Cup teams are Enga Mioks, Mendi Muruks, Hela Wigmen, Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, Snax Lae Tigers, Port Moresby Vipers and Waghi Tumbe.

In the absence of several Digicel Cup teams, Lae-based teams Spiders and Royals have also being included.

Ojay to give 9s shot

RUGBY LEAGUE

FORMER Junior Pukpuk

Ojay Moka is amongst a determined group of Brisbanebased players that will be a fielding a team, the QLD-PNG Kokomos in this weekend’s action filled Digicel Super 9s Championship in Lae.

Moka, a member of the Tweed Heads Seagulls rugby league club, based on the Gold Coast, is keen to have a shot at the PNGRFL-staged tournament.

Moka said the Kokomos have a great culture and they are just looking forward to competing amongst the best in PNG.

“I have a tremendous respect for the players that are coming from the local leagues and I can see it being very competitive,” he says with a grin.

Moka said his club had a long pre-season, and he just can’t wait to get some game time under his belt.

“I am looking forward to this year 2015 with the club (Tweed Heads Seagulls). We have great coaching staff here who have helped me along with the transition from rugby union to rugby league. We pride ourselves with our structure and attention to detail. I am truly blessed to be associated with the club,” he added.

“Ojay has completed the preseason with the Tweed Head Seagulls QLD cup extended squad and has shown great dedication in his training and preparation. We are very happy to have him on board with the club for 2015, and look forward to watching him develop as a player,” said Tweed Heads Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle.

NAME: OJAY BENSON MOKA

AGE: 25 WEIGHT: 90 KG HEIGHT: 175CM BIRTHPLACE: PORT MORESBY.

PNG ORIGIN: ORO PROVINCE & CENTRAL PROVINCE.

OCCUPATION: STUDENT (SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY).

POSITION: CENTRE/ FIVE EIGHT

JUNIOR CLUB: WESTERN DISTRICTS, CANBERRA ACT (RUGBY UNION).

POMRFU: SOUTHERN CHIEFS, UNIVERSITY PIGGIES.

2014 - PRESENT CLUB: TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS, GOLD COAST, QLD REP HONOURS:

2014 QLD PNG KOKOMOS.

2010 SOUTHERN TRADERS, COCA COLA SUPER 5S IN LAE, PNG.

Vipers to add flavour

RUGBY LEAGUE

THE stylish Port Moresby Vipers are set to add some flavour as a late inclusion into this weekend’s PNGRFL-Digicel Championships 9s tournament slated for Lae.

With an already star-studded cast set for this weekend’s rugby league bonanza, the Vipers presence has heightened the challenge for supremacy, as the shortened version of the game grows with interest.

The Vipers will be using the tournament to get the

players back into the competitive mode and game ready for the season ahead in April.

Amongst the squad is former playmaker Peter Paulus making his return to the game after a year’s absence.

The Vipers team: Tala ‘pk’ Kami, Stanley Torato, Sam Koim, Ham Tina, Bobby Mori, Nicko Dom, Jolam Jerry, Rex Maina, Presely Soto, Peter Paulus, Sebulon Ragi, Brendan Gotuna, Nelson Wallen, Eke Ene, Kingsley George. Shadows players Steward Nomi, Ben Wemin and Ben Goma.

OJAY Moka

Chung: Deadline today for World Cup bid

SOCCER

TODAY is the deadline for government entities to give their undertaking to support the Papua New Guinea Football Association’s (PNGFA) bid to host the 2016 women’s Under 20 World Cup.

PNGFA president David Chung said following the Prime Minister and NEC’s direction to support the bid, he is hoping those entities that need to come onboard are not being obstacles.

In update, Chung said while most of the key entities have given their voice of approval, there are still several more that did not make their intentions known as of last Friday.

Chung, also the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) head, said that it is a requirement that all criteria’s

must be set and forwarded in a weeks advance to the FIFA board to deliberate on.

Chung said with all necessary documentation in place, it will support to become the first Pacific Island nation to host a 11-a-side women’s FIFA World Cup.

He said the biennial 16 team event will put PNG on the world football map and present huge opportunities for exposure and recognition never experienced before.

“The building of the world class infrastructures is a key factor, but the letter of guarantee from the Government and NEC plus other key entities to support the bid is paramount,” he added.

The FIFA board will deliberate on the bid on March 19.

The other country PNG is sweating on to host the tournament is Sweden.

NSL picks up tempo

SOCCER

THE Telikom National Soccer League (NSL) heightens with a cracker of a round two opener between second and third placed Lae City Dwellers and FC Pom at Bomana on Saturday.

With champions Hekari United returning from mixedbag of results two-match tour of the Solomon Islands, going down to OFC Champions League rivals 3-0 and a lull 2-2 draw against the national U23 team…they will release their frustration on an out of sorts Oro.

With that in mind, the visitors from Lae must win to stay in touch as they are just a point behind.

With the Dwellers remaining in Port Moresby this week for their next outing, skipper Raymond Gunemba believes it will strengthen their resolve to push their city counterparts to the limit.

The 4-0 win over Oro is a result of their team, dominated by newcomers at this level working hard to be consistent performers, said Gunemba.

“The boys are picking up after a slow start and we hope this extra week in Port Mo-

PNGRFL CEO resigns

FROM BACKPAGE

TASSELL was party to this progress, but with success, come the knockers and they are they not in short supply of them, as Tassell spells out the rationale behind his forced departure.

You need a very strong skin to wear the CEO’s hat as the knives have been out ever since. Finally they have struck deep. When contacted yesterday, PNGRFL board chairman Sandis Tsaka said he accepted the resignation on-behalf of the board with reservation, saying they have lost a key member.

Tsaka said the board in its bid to remedy the situation have called an urgent meeting to be held in Kokopo, before the SP Hunters opening home game against the Redcliffe Dolphins on Sunday.

resby will help us start the second round on a good note,” he added.

The match is billed as a match that will set the tone for a hectic second leg of the Telikom sponsored elite competition, as teams jostle for the run home.

And with fourth placed Madang on a bye, third-placed FC Pom would like nothing better than to get match winning points to steer clear from the latter.

In any case it should be a thriller of a match with Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba set to get a work-over from FC Pom’s Rolland Bala and co, while the two-prong duo of Harry ‘sapea’ Jenkins and Felix Bondaluk will push their weight around on Dwellers Bewa Willie and Lee Wabing in a feature match-up for the clash.

While at the rear of the points-table, PNGFA franchise Besta United must overcome their recent poor form to add to Admiralty’s woes to have any chance of staying in the hunt.

The unofficial points table sees Hekari on 14 points, followed by the Dwellers on 13, FC Pom 9, Madang 8, Oro 6.

Aust TV to broadcast Games

PACIFIC GAMES

GAMES Organising Committee is proud to announce the inclusion of Australian Broadcaster, National Indigenous Television (NITV) into the growing fold of rights holders for the 2015 Pacific Games.

NITV will have Exclusive Broadcast Rights for Free to Air terrestrial broadcasts in Australia through NITV and SBS. It will also have Non Exclusive Online Rights within Australia.

NITV is a channel made by, for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. From its humble beginnings in 2007, it has continued to grow, launching as part of SBS on free-to-air television (Channel 34) in December 2012.

For the first time ever, Australians and Pacific Islanders living in Australia will be able to

witness the talent of the Pacific Games in the comfort of their own homes in Australia.

NITV will also distribute across the Pacific through digital and satellite broadcasts on SBS in agreement to territories.

It will do Live broadcast of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and will carry up to 6 hours a day of programming each day of the Games. As part of the agreement NITV will be providing the commentating services of Mark Ella and Evan Charlton. Mark, a former Australian rugby union player, whom many would be familiar with. He is often considered as one of his country’s all-time greats in Rugby Union, while Evan is a well-known sport reporter and broadcaster in Australia. Executive Manager for GOC Operations Clint Flood said, “With the inclusion of Australia in the 2015 Pacific Games in four

sports, the participation by NITV is significant. The broadcast coverage is extensive, and the contribution of Mark Ella and Evan Charlton will add another level to the great talent of pool we have involved in the Broadcast of the Games.” He said, the coverage by NITV is not only significant by being the first Australian broadcast deal, but its link to Indigenous people in Australia and Torres Straight Islands provides an additional cultural link to the Pacific Games.”

Meanwhile, Pacific Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan has warmly welcomed NITV into the rights holding family for the Games.

Mr Lakhan said, with Australia invited to participate in four sports at this year’s Games it was entirely appropriate for an Australian broadcaster to join the 2015 Pacific Games team.

“I have had enough and have informed PNGRFL board chairman Sandis Tsaka that I cannot continue anymore as CEO of the PNGRFL,” said Tassell in the statement.

“I have been the target of a constant and malicious campaign against me since I took on the position and my health and my family have suffered because of it. I can no longer ignore it or accept it and cannot continue to perform at the high standards I set for myself.

The death threats against me, the threats against my family and the continual campaign to slur, undermine and tarnish my image has got to a point where I simply cannot and do not want to do the job anymore,” he stated.

Tassell said that administrators of social media site namely ‘Worldwide PNG RL News’ managed by a person who sits behind a computer in Brisbane have been a main instigator and are believed to have waged a malicious campaign against the PNGRFL, the Hunters, himself and certain staff member’s.

“I have ignored and kept quiet about the rubbish going on but not anymore. They have tried to undermine the program by constantly contacting players and staff

ADMIRALTY goal-keeper John Bai and defender Agi Moses (centre) are being challenged for the ball by FC Pom’s Harry Jenkins in these series of photos. Jenkins will feature in this Saturday’s match of the day with Lae City Dwellers at the Bomana CS Training Oval.

DAVID CHUNG

Tassell quits Tassell

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chief administra-

BE WARNED!

The National Capital District Commission has received from reliable sources details and other information of individuals who are using their dinghies and other motorised vessels to smuggle betelnut into the city. Our own investigations have confirmed the details and by now those involved are known to us and are been closely monitored.

Accordingly, all owners of dinghies and other motorised vessels along the coastal villages of Central Province and Port Moresby including the Gulf Province are hereby warned to IMMEDIATELY STOP this smuggling activity.

Those caught continuing to smuggle betelnut into the city will have their dinghies and or their motorised vessels impounded by our enforcement agencies and a fine of K10,000.00 as allowed by the National Capital District Betelnut Control Law of 2013 will be applied.

DO NOT RISK YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS NOR COMPROMISE YOUR REPUTATION THROUGH THIS ILLEGAL ACT OF SMUGGLING.

Everyone is asked to take heed of this warning and be responsible for the betterment of our City, Port Moresby.

Authorised by LESLIE ALU City Manager

tor

dropped a bombshell with his resignation yesterday. In a media statement, Tassell said he could not contin-

ue anymore. The magnitude of the CEO’s resignation has not fi ltered in yet, but it comes at a time when the ailing

league has fi nally climbed out of its hole and is seeing daylight and the promises of a bright future.

CONTINUED PAGE 51

RUGBY LEAGUE

Brad Tassell

Brad Tassel (right) and Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko