A NUMBER of destroyed boats in Port Vila; a family’s belongings lay scattered around their destroyed house as winds of up to 230km an hour and waves swept high as Cyclone Pam hits Port Vila on Saturday.
Pictures: ABC/ Care Australia/Adra Vanuatu
PORT Moresby continued to take a battering last night from tropical Cyclone Nathan in the Coral Sea as Prime Minister Peter O’Neill expressed sadness at the loss of lives and millions of kina in destruction caused by
super Cyclone Pam, further east, in Vanuatu. In-country, at least five bridges on the Lae-Madang Highway had been reportedly destroyed in the UsinoBundi electorate of Madang Province.
Badly-hit provinces, East and West New Britain and West Sepik were also assessing damages caused in the past week by floods and galeforce winds.
CONTINUED PAGE 2
MONDAY,
2015
ONthe heels of untold destructions caused to transport infrastructure, property, homes and livestock in Papua New Guinea comes the equally devastating news of deaths and mayhem in fellow Melanesian nation Vanuatu.
PNG’s sufferings in the Highlands, the Southern region and West and East New Britain Provinces this month pales into insignificance compared with the deadly trail left behind by super-cyclone Pam at the weekend.
With Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, we express our sympathy and condolences to the families of people who have lost their lives. Vanuatu is not a popular destination for Papua New Guineans but many would be praying that Papua Guineans were not among those killed or injured, we understand to be 10 fatalities. As the PM indicated, the government awaits an update from Foreign Affairs and Immigration. Given the geography of the country with many isolated island community, the full extent of the loss of life, injuries and damage would be slow in reaching authorities but initial reports suggest that Pam has caused extensive destruction in Port Vila, under a state-of-emergency declaration, and several other provinces.
Port Moresby residents felt the tail-end of TC Nathan off Coral Sea about midweek and as more rain pelted down in the city yesterday we can only wonder if, in Vanuatu, people are still at risk or were able to take shelter and remain safe.
Mr O’Neill was among the first in the region to sympathise but we note that Julie Bishop and New Zealand have committed funds. While PNG sympathises we should take stock when it comes to fundraising for disaster victims.
Last year’s response to a series of fundraising drives for victims of cyclone Ita which hit Milne Bay Province was poor. In Port Moresby, the planned fundraising at Five-Mile met with mixed results on top of the more successful phone-athon at Alotau for the most affected parts which included Rossel and Sudest islands, Misima and Samarai-Murua.
In the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Buin was hit by three earthquakes in a space of three days – there the victims, whose homes were destroyed, asked for building materials and tools to rebuild but the official reaction was slow.
PNG needs to connect more with Melanesian Spearhead Group bloc, especially Vanuatu, a country which we helped gain its independence in the early 1980s. In recent years, Vanuatu, to PNG’s embarrassment, has spearheaded the Papua and West Papua separatist cause. It was Vila’s hardline stand in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, more than anything else, that saw Mr O’Neill adopt a Pacific consensus approach to the Group’s stand on human rights abuses next door.
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Mt Hagen: Johnny Poiya.
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Buka: David Lornie
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NEWS TIP?
MP and Public
AccountsCommittee chairman John Hickey was arrested and charged by the police fraud squad in Port Moresby on Saturday. National Capital Dis-trict Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa confirmed the arrest yesterday, adding that the Madang politician
was released on K5000 bail. Mr Bawa said the bail was allowed due to Mr Hickey’s health conditions.
POLICE FRAUD SQUAD Port Moresby
The fraud squad had confirmed that Mr Hickey was charged with three counts of official corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation involving K700,000. He was locked in Boroko police cell but was released later on bail and will appear in Waigani Committal Court today.
FROM PAGE 1
WEST New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel is expected to meet Mr O’Neill in Port Moresby for additional funding and technical assistance for his flood-ravaged province where 10,000 people had been affected, 50 homes and five vital bridges destroyed.
But the focus of attention was on Vanuatu where at least 10 people had been killed and homes and property destroyed by Pam which had also hit Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Relief aid from Australia and New Zealand started arriving in the capital Port Vila yesterday.
Mr O’Neill expressed deep sympathy and extended condolences to the families
TREES damaged alongside a road in Port Vila, Vanuatu following Cyclone Pam. Picture: ABC/We Care Australia
of people who had lost their lives in Vanuatu, adding that PNG would take the lead to work together with her Pacific neighbours to increase defences against
natural disasters.
He said it was an issue that Pacific Island leaders should discuss further when they meet later in the year.
The Prime Minister said
he was waiting for an update from Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department on whether Papua New Guineans may have been among the dead or injured.
THE revised Lukautim Pikinini Act which goes before Parliament in the May session will give men equal rights as women in accessing the courts for child maintenance and other associated family matters.
This means that when a woman deserts her husband and children, the man will claim maintenance from her. For many years, this could only be done by wives or women for themselves and their children.
Secretary for the Constitutional Law Reform Commission Eric Kwa clarified this while giving a rundown and brief preview of what the Lukautim Pikinini
The bottom line
A TOP diplomat about to be sent packing from PNG? It appears bad debts from a previous posting has come back to haunt him. That’s why it pays settling your bills folks.
NOT sure about sending our students to Morocco in North Africa under a scholarship deal signed recently by our Foreign Minister. The region is a hotspot for terror attacks and a security risk.
BLACKOUT
ELECTRICITY consumers reckon the PPL-imposed blackouts are getting longer. Even in the NCD some suburbs are going without power for over 24-hours! It’s unacceptable, they say and we agree.
WHAT is this story we are hearing about a tussle over SOE assets that the IPBC currently manages? Maybe the recent referral of a particular minister is a blessing in disguise.
LAWYER who recently got promoted in the law and justice sector is raising
the women.
At a glance
EQUAL RIGHTS: THE revised Lukautim Pikinini Act which goes before Parliament next May Session will now give men equal rights as women in accessing the courts for child maintenance and other associated family matters.
MAINTENANCE: This means that when a woman deserts her husband and children, the man will claim maintenance from her. For many years, this could only be done by women and children.
Act will cover under which men’s issues would be enforced. He said they are now clarifying the process under the Act as it is quiet unclear on the men issues.
Mr Kwa outlined some issues that will be highlighted in the revised Luakutim Pikinini Act and spoke briefly about it also at the 2015 PNG Women’s Forum that ended last week where
he also made a presentation as the government legal adviser on these issues. He spoke about how the revised law will enforce the legal marrying age of 18 years, among others, included in this Lukautim Pikinini Act and highlighted that one part will also include empowering men and giving them equal access to the courts just like
“The other thing also is about men having access to the courts for maintenance so we are now encouraging men to seek the protection of the law, where the wife is the bread winner and then she takes off and the men is left with the children, so for the first time, after so many years now, after Independence, we have now made it equal, so it’s not only women seeking the courts access to maintenance but we also asking that men who are deserted will also have the same rights. So we have equality in terms of the law as well,” mr Kwa said.
“So that’s one or two things of the new law that’s coming,” he said.
eyebrows for his work ethic. But his subordinates continue to fail him when they get in late for meetings.
THE criminal act of burning vehicles left by the owners or driver on a city road continues unabated. This one was set alight on the Poreporena Freeway at the weekend. Police do something.
NO feedback as yet to the Drum on whether Adventure Park’s crocodiles were accounted for after last week’s floods at 14 Mile. We hope they were to avoid extreme visitor attraction!
THERE is nothing wrong contributing to a private medical fundraiser. But if the money is coming from a top government department for personal medical expenses then it is wrong.
A CITY school is still waiting for a reputable baking company to send over a complaint form after a student found a cockroach in a pie. C’mon people let’s do the right thing.
OUR very own Oz-based Penrith Panthers star James Segeyaro is a special guest on Channel Nine’s Footy Show this Thursday. Check your local TV guide for the screening time.
PENGEE: thedrum@spp.com.pg
PRIME Minister Peter
O’Neill has expressed deep sympathy and extended condolences to the families of people who have lost their lives in Vanuatu as a result of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
“I extend my condolences on behalf of the Government and our nation to the people of Vanuatu,” Mr O’Neill said.
“People in Papua New Guinea are praying for those who have lost their lives in the cyclone overnight.
“While the full extent of loss of life, injuries and damage is not clear at this point, we understand the cyclone has caused extensive destruction in Port Vila and several Vanuatu provinces.
“I hope people still at risk from Cyclone Pam are able to take shelter and stay safe.”
He said it was unclear if any Papua New Guineans were among the people killed or injured in the cyclone and was awaiting an update from the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Department.
Mr O’Neill said the current wet season had been particularly destructive for many communities in the Pacific.
“In Papua New Guinea this year and with our neighbours we have seen extreme weather that has taken lives and destroyed property and vital infrastructure.
“Storms and cyclones in our region appear to be getting worse.
“As a Pacific Island region we need to work together
The bottom line
WHILE tropical cyclone Nathan is moving on a steady pace away from the Queensland coast it is likely to hit southeast just outside the PNG border, says the Weather Office.
CONDOLENCES: Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has expressed deep sympathy and extended condolences to the families of people who have lost their lives in Vanuatu as a result of Tropical Cyclone Pam.
DESTRUCTION: While the full extent of the loss of life, injuries and damage is not clear at this point, we understand the cyclone has caused extensive destruction in Port Vila and several Vanuatu provinces.
MR O’NEILL: He said it was unclear if any Papua New Guineans were among the people killed or injured.
ONE child is dead and another in a critical condition as 10,000 families’ were affected in West New Britain by the floods.
Minister Peter O’Neill today, said the Indian Association was the first outside sector to donate towards the disaster in his province.
On Friday an updated report from the office confirmed that Nathan was heading further northwest from Australia at 5km an hour and tracking just off PNG’s Southern region border.
This means that there are more destructive winds developing, heavy rains and possible flash flooding being experienced there.
Gale warnings were given out and people in Western, Gulf and Central provinces were expected to adhere to the weather notices.
Tropical cyclone Nathan is a category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 100km per hour with wind gusts to 140km per hour.
According to the Weather Office as of 7am Friday its location was within 45km southeast and travelling.
A statement from Assistant Director forecasting Jimmy Gomoga stated that people living in the mentioned areas could experience abnormally high tides with large waves possibly leading to minor flooding along the southeast coast.
and increase our defenses against natural disasters.
“This is an issue that Leaders need to discuss further when we meet later this year.”
West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel was teary-eyed in Port Moresby late last night as he received a K25,000 donation from the Indian Association of PNG to assist him with restoring the lives of his people.
Mr Muthuvel, who is meeting with Prime
He said 50 homes had been destroyed and about 10,000 families affected as food gardens stay submerged in flood waters as funds were being sought for tents, food, water and temporary shelter as well as some medical supplies. He said the money he received yesterday from the Indian Association
would be used to buy tents and food supplies for the time being until national Government funds were secured.
Indian Association president Raghu Pathi, treasurer Rajeev Sharma and the Indian community in Port Moresby presented the money while assuring Mr Muthuvel that they would assist in any other means possible.
Mr Muthuvel said that was the first donation coming from the private sector outside Kimbe.
Aid is beginning to arrive in Vanuatu after the Pacific island nation was hit by a cyclone described as a “monster”.
Tropical cyclone Nathan was developed from a low in the weather system early last week where PNG has been experiencing its adverse effects of high winds, heavy rains and storm surge causing flash floods in its coastal areas of Southern region and New Britain.
In addition tropical cyclone occurrences, continuous heavy rains, high winds and floods are very common during the peak of the monsoon or wet season which PNG is currently experiencing.
This extreme weather will slowly recede until it ceases in May where the dry season takes over in June, the Weather Office has said.
THERE are various innovative projects making inroads in Papua New Guinea to curb the high rate of gender-based violence.
Some of these projects initiated by the government and non-government organisations were talked about at the women’s forum last week.
TWO FAMILIES of eight escaped death in a near fatal landslide caused by the recent continuous heavy down pour in Port Moresby last week.
An elderly woman was seriously injured in the landslide.
The home of an Eastern Highlands family for 32 years in Kipo settlement near East Boroko was destroyed by the landslide last week.
The house owner, Kelep Nema, revealed to this newspaper that they were all asleep when the disas-
LANDSLIDE: Due to the continuous rains in Port Moresby a family residing at Kipo settelment in East Boroko escaped death in the early hours of Tuesday morning when the ground above their home gave way and crashed onto their house trapping a mother and her 5 month old baby and seriously injuring an elderly women.
RESCUE: With help from neighbours they managed to free the mother and her baby who sustained minor injuries and continued to locate the elderly woman who was buried beneath the debris. She sustained internal injuries and was taken to hospital.
ter struck and were lucky to escape without fatalities.
“Because of the continuous rain we were chilling-
ly locked in the house not knowing what would happen in the early hours of the morning,” he said.
Nema said by 3am the ground, metres above their house, broke lose and hit their house. “Some of us managed to escape but a woman with her five-monthold baby were trapped inside with an elderly mother buried under the debris,” said Nema. “With help from neighbours, we freed the mother and the baby who sustained minor injuries and continued to locate another elderly woman who was buried beneath the debris. In the shivering cold we finally located the woman and used
iron bars and an axe to split open the collapsed and half buried building finally freeing her.”
The elderly woman was taken to hospital with major internal injuries.
Nema said their personal belongings and property valued at K10,000 were destroyed. including school materials for his children who are in grade 10, 8 and 6 respectively. He thanked God for saving his family from the disaster, adding that his family are followers of the Foursquare Church.
POLICE have asked a Port Moresby-based bus operator to write an official complaint about the K600 he claimed to have lost in takings after his vehicle was grounded last Thursday.
PMV owner-operator
Thomas Akmat, who runs
The bottom line
seven buses in the city, had demanded the amount from traffic police at Four-Mile after they immobilised one of his buses by removing its battery at about 7am. He said daily earnings from one vehicle was K600.
In protest he was still
refusing yesterday to move the bus out of the Four-Mile bus stop. Mr Akmat and his wife said at close of business they would not get the battery back and not remove their bus until the police pay the K600 for Thursday’s loss of business.
But police told PostCourier yesterday that the duty officer responsible had immobolised the PMV bus because it was overloaded.
Mr Akmat said that the family hope to see NCD police boss Andy Bawa today to lay their complaint.
These projects were the safe cities project in the National Capital District; Populations Services International’s counselling services for couples; Oxfam’s community safe houses and Ginigoada Bisinis Development Foundation’s meri safe places and meri safe bus to name a few.
Country representative for Population Services International Gabriel Ganci was one of the panellists in the discussion on “what innovative methods are NGOs, the private sector, donors and Government using to combat and prevent gender-based violence.”
He said that PSI had so far counselled 500 couples, especially young people who were a few years into their marriages.
“Counselling involved discovering root causes of domestic problems and seeking preventative approaches as solutions,” Mr Ganci said, adding the results had been quite positive for couples.
Another, Kamene Wauga with Oxfam, talked about repatriation of battered victims to another location for safety and further counselling, which had proven successful for that organisation.
Pastor Mike Field from Ginigoada Bisnis Develoment Foundation talked about the only women safe bus in Port Moresby that was serving women commuters, also proving a positive innovation for women and girls.
Counselling involved discovering root causes of domestic problems and seeking preventative approaches as solutions.
GIVE GOD your best with all your soul, spirit, strength and mind, Morobe Governor Kelly Naru has told his people.
Mr Naru said this to his fellow Yalu villagers and also wanted this message to go to the rest of Morobe and Papua New Guinea “for all to know what God expects from each and every one of us.”
He was invited to the village, for St Mathews Lutheran Church Thanksgiving and to see the progress of the new church building which he is also assisting to build. He also gave K50,000 to the congregation to complete the church.
HEAVY rain in the past two weeks have prompted two leaders to call on contractors working on the Pacific Games infrastructure to work 24 hours and sevendays to deliver the games by July 4.
Opposition Leader Don Polye and senior citizen and Lae businessman Kandaso Napi made the call as heavy rain caused delay on work at some of the sporting facilities.
Mr Polye said the Opposition wanted the Pacific Games to start on
The bottom line
CONCERNS RAISED: By two prominent leaders that due to the current rainy weather Games venues for the Pacific Games may not be ready by July 4 this year. And that it would be embarrassing as smaller island countries look up to PNG to set the pace.
OPINIONS: For contractors to work 24/7 on the Games venues to utilise power to work at night or postpone the Games to October or November.
time in July and any delay would be an embarrassment for Papua New Guinea.
He said the rainy season did not help.
Mr Polye said that with
24-hours of constant power supply, there was no reason why contractors cannot work day and night to complete the facilities.
“There is power 24 hours a
day. It is not like Kandep or other rural districts with no power where you can give excuses.
His colleague, Engan countryman and ardent nationalist and businessman Kandaso Napi said in a statement that while driving around the Capital, he had come to notice that work has just started a few weeks back on some of the sporting venues.
This ardent nationalist said he was now wondering how the contractors would complete these venues in the
remaining four months.
He said many of the smaller island countries look up to PNG to set the pace.
“If we do not have the venues ready by the due date, it would be an embarrassment for our country,” Mr Napi said.
He said if for some reason the Pacific Games Committee and Sports Ministry could not push the contractors to work on overdrive to have the venues delivered on time, the best option is to have the games deferred to October or November.
The money would fund electrical wirings, main entrance doors and pews to be installed before it is opened for use.
Chairman of the church fundraising committee Amos Wallace said they hope to open the church by end of May.
Mr Wallace also gave a basic run down of how they used the funds, highlighting the fact that the villagers did their own fundraising and had partly completed the church with the funds before the Morobe Government stepped in to help.
Governor Naru told his people that God had blessed them with a good thinking mind and strength and they need to apply that good use to progress God’s work in Yalu village, educate their children and to use their land wisely.
“You say you are a landowner and I am also a landowner but the land belongs to God and we are only custodians. We have to manage and distribute this land fairly and equally to our families so everyone prospers,” he said.
He also thanked his people for being self reliant and raising K65,000 before asking for help from the Governor and private partners.
STUDENTS attending the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment in East New Britain Province have started a six-day boycott of classes to protest against unresolved issues faced by the student body.
The students wanted the administration to reinstate the student representative council (SRC), which had been non-existent since 2009 and to remove the block mode teaching which, they claimed, was affecting their learning especially when they had to undertake a particular course in just three weeks.
The students gathered at the school premises on Friday morning and presented their petition outlining their grievances to the administration.
Student body representative Jerimiah Sokaim said they would not attend classes this week and failure to address the petition by this Friday would result in mass withdrawal of students.
He said they had planned to present their petition to vice-chancellor Phillip Siaguru but found out that the vice chancellor had been suspended and that a senior lecturer, Dr Samson Laup, was acting as VC and received the petition from the students.
Rabaul MP Allan Marat had earlier concerns about alleged nepotism in the man-
agement of the university, which had triggered the recent events at the institution, said Sokaim.
The students’ grievances in the petition include the non-existence of an SRC, block mode teaching, deteriorating learning facilities, student welfare, the lack of re-enforcement of audited recommendation and the user pay policy at the institution.
He said compared with other universities, UNRE was the worst in terms of academic and learning facilities.
He said they have had no SRC following a boycott by students in 2009, resulting in the removal of the SRC.
“Since then UNRE has been without a SRC. We have no freedom of speech to air our concerns. Other universities have SRCs but we don’t,” he said.
He said the recent actions by the students came after a meeting in which the students had to select representatives from each year group to talk on their behalf.
“We do not live up to the university standard in terms of learning and facilities and conducting of research. We do not have proper laboratories. Our library is outdated,” he said.
Dr Laup confirmed that he had been appointed acting vice-chancellor and would respond to the students demand after a meeting with the management.
MANUS students attending universities and other tertiary institutions around PNG who received school fee assistance from their MP Ronny Knight are now left fending for themselves in the 2015 academic year. Unlike other students protesting and demanding their
UP to 10 Papua New Guinea students will be offered tertiary scholarships to study at a university in the North African country of Morocco.
Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato, together with his counterparts from Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, was guest of the Morocco government attending the Crans Montana Forum.
The Crans Montana Forum is an international organisation established with the support of the Swiss government to promote international cooperation with focus on integrating the developing countries into the world economy and promoting global dialogue to foster best practices.
The forum works in close cooperation with institutional partners such as United Nations agencies and the European Union, with which PNG has working arrangements bilaterally as well as regionally.
The visit to Morocco also provided the opportunity for Mr Pato to visit the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation.
This is an agency of the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs that is responsible for the implementation of over 11,000 Moroccan government scholarships to developing countries, including PNG.
“I held discussions with the head of AMCI in order to consolidate and formalise the scholarship package for Papua New Guinea.
“This has already included ten scholarships confirmed for Papua New Guinea in the 2014 academic year.” Mr Pato said.
members of parliament and their provincial governments to pay up, most Manus students suffer in silence and hope their parents and family members will assist them.
The financial assistance from the Manus district services improvement pro-
gram (DSIP) funds ranges from K3000-K5000 per student.
It has been a relive to students and their parents in the last two years when the district allocated K1 million for the program. A first term MP, Mr Knight is facing the leadership tribunal in rela-
tion to the purchase of MV Manus Trader and has been suspended from office pending the outcome of his case.
Mr Knight said in an interview with Cs1 Media in Lorengau that education is the biggest export of Manus and will always be as the revenue base in the prov-
ince is limited unlike other provinces in PNG.
Knight along with members of his DSIP committee realise a lot of potential achievers were aimlessly living in the the villages and roaming the streets of provincial headquarter in Lorengau.
“There are currently three Papua New Guinea students studying in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Applications for the remaining seven scholarships are to be submitted to the Moroccan government.”
Mr Pato also had the opportunity to address Pacific Island students studying in Rabat.
THOUSANDS of kina worth of goods and property went up in flames on Saturday morning in Rabaul after an Asian-owned supermarket and a nearby building housing a BSP ATM and the East New Britain Savings and Loans Rabaul branch were gutted by fire.
The Garden Enterprise supermarket as well as the mobile shop next door had just opened for business when the fire started around
THE SUPREME Court has refused to let convicted Komo/Margarima MP Francis Potape out on bail. His application was refused last Friday because he had no convincing reasons to put to the court as to what factors made it necessary for him to be out of jail.
Judge George Manuhu handed the verbal decision on behalf of his two colleague Judges who were out on duty.
Manuhu said the written judgment would be handed to respective lawyers next week.
However, he verbally handed down the decision to refuse Potape’s bail application as the written judgment would also contain the same thought. Potape is understood to serve the jail sentence of two and a half years relating to the misappropriation of his district’s monies.
FIRE: A fire that started at 9 am burnt down an Asian-owned supermarket ‘Garden Enterprise Ltd’ and an adjoining building housing a mobile shop, a BSP ATM and the East New Britain Savings and Loans Rabaul branch. According to eyewitness reports, the fire started from the kai bar area and spread throughout the whole building.
CALL: Due to firefighters arriving an hour late, locals in Rabaul have called for the town to have its own fire station.
9am. Eyewitnesses said the fire started from the food bar area and quickly spread burning the whole build-
ing as well as the adjoining building housing the BSP ATM, a mobile shop and the ENB Savings and Loan
Society office. Rabaul’s Post Office is also located inside the supermarket.
Early morning shoppers had to rush out of the building and potential looting was stopped by security guards and police officers who had to man the premises until help arrived.
However, according to eyewitnesses the fire tenders arrived more than an hour late, after the fire had destroyed the buildings but were able to stop the fire from spreading to nearby
buildings, especially the Rabaul Topkai Bakery building.
People, who gathered at the scene of the fire, called for Rabaul Town to have its own fire station.
The fire tender had to travel from Kokopo to Rabaul to attend to the fire.
Police had to continue safeguarding the premises until BSP and ENB Savings and Loan officials were able to remove their safes.
The cause of the fire is not known.
PORT Moresby police have warned people, especially women, not to walk the streets at night.
Police boss Andy Bawa made this call following
The bottom line
the rape of a woman by a group of men at Five-Mile on Saturday night. The victim was walking with her husband at around 11 o’clock at night near the Five-Mile Whitehouse area when a group of men held them up,
chased the husband away and raped the woman in the nearby bushes.
“I would like to warn boyfriends and girlfriends or husbands and wives to take extra precaution when walking around in the night at
areas that are not safe,” Mr Bawa said. He said police went to the crime scene and picked up a suspect after the husband reported the matter.
Meanwhile, a man from Kompiam in Enga Province
is in police custody following the death of his wife in Gerehu. The death occurred on Saturday night following an argument between the husband and wife. The husband is being interviewed by police.
Port Moresby police have warned people, especially women, not to walk the streets at night.
THE BETELNUT ban in National Capital District will be challenged in court when sufficient evidence is gathered and compiled.
Law firm, Paraka lawyers has assured the public last week that it will fight the ban on behalf of the growers and sellers.
Principal Paul Paraka told a gathering at six mile last week that he had personally visited villages in Mekeo in Central and Gulf provinces on a fact finding mission on how the buai ban has impacted people’s livelihoods.
Paraka said the buai ban issue was a complex one and sufficient evidence needed to be gathered properly before filing a court case.
He said the lives of people were affected by the ban, and he went to those villages purposely to have a look at the situation on the ground.
He said evidence will also be gathered from vendors and other people who are being affected by the ban.
He said human rights for survival is a factor that will be assessed by the courts.
FORMER Bougainville capital of Arawa has hosted the 24th Joint Supervisory Body Meeting (JSB) between the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and the national Government last Friday.
AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government President John Momis said the ABG is concerned about the national Government’s continued disrespect.
He said this at the Joint Supervisory Body Meeting in Arawa on Friday, which was attended by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Mr Momis said the ABG is appreciative and grateful for financial support provided by the national Government
over the years.
“However, we remain concerned and critical that the level of support has not been commensurated with the costs of providing these services and the level of powers and functions transferred,” he said.
“We have observed that while other provinces in the country have had their recurrent budgets increased over the years, commensurate with the increase in
cost of services provided, the same has not been true for Bougainville.
“Grant appropriations by successive governments for Bougainville’s recurrent budget have stayed mostly the same with minimal increases only for some years.”
He said the national Government has displayed arrogance on its part in its unilateral decisions in reducing the RDG by K15
million in 2012 and most recently reducing the 2015 SIF by K30 million to repay cuts to the RDG.
“We need to come up with a mechanism to integrate DSIP/PSIP funds into the ABG’s budgetary framework to ensure they are aligned with our priorities.
“Bougainville continues to miss out on local-government grants given to other LLGs in PNG.”
Mr Momis reminded the
Prime Minister that the unpredictable actions by the national Government makes them wonder whether Bougainville has been unduly victimised and made the sacrificial lamb on the altar of self-determination.
“Honourable Prime Minister O’Neill, as you are well aware, the issue of trust between our leaders in honouring the Bougainville Peace Agreement is very important,” he said.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill flew in with Cabinet ministers James Marape (Finance), Charles Abel (Planning), Byron Chan (Mining) and Sir Puka Temu (Public Service). President Momis, who warmly welcomed Mr O’Neill at Aropa Airport, said the meeting being held in Arawa is indicative of substantial progress and level of maturity and trust achieved since the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in 2001.
“On behalf of the people of Bougainville and ABG, I would like to sincerely welcome Honourable Prime Minister O’Neill and members of the National Government delegation.
“Prime Minister, by personally attending this meeting goes a long way to demonstrate your interest and commitment to dealing with the Bougainville issue,” Mr Momis said. He also thanked former prime ministers who supported the people of Bougainville.
The Papua New Guinea Teaching Service Commission is inconsiderate regarding teachers’ working terms and conditions. With the current government’s policy focus on free education and the introduction of the new standard-based education, less attention is paid to teachers’ pay and conditions. More funds have been allocated for infrastructure development in schools and students’ school fees. This is only one side of a coin. The free government subsidised education is increasing the number of students in a class. This is increasing work load for teachers. There is no balanced teacher to student ratio. Remote and disadvantage allowances for teachers serving in remote schools should be increased. High risk allowances should be paid to teachers, especially in rural areas. Teachers risk their lives crossing flooded rivers, steep mountains and cliffs to provide education services. The special parliamentary committee that was appointed to deal with teachers’ grievances has tabled the report in parliament but nothing is happening. We are still waiting in silence. Only the good Lord in heaven will reward us in our teaching ministry.
Human Resource Developer
Nathan Rungwa
During a recent trip to the People’s Republic of China, I was astounded by their road infrastructure. There were no traces of “pot holes”. The cars were cruising at an average of 140 kilometres per hour at four to eight lane highways and overpasses.
If our contractors are failing PNG big time, why can’t the Chinese be asked to build our highways? The craters emerging on our roads during heavy rains is a sign of poor engineering and construction. Let’s not kid ourselves and feed those contractors who underdeliver World Bank/ADB/GoPNG loan funded road projects. Stop these nonsense. Seek outside help.
THIS is to Michael Tei of Western Highlands Province. If you see this message, please call NDB Investments office as soon as possible on 342 7500.
I ADMIRE the sight of liquefied natural gas (LNG) burning from the top of a steel tower structure at the LNG export site outside Port Moresby.
The picture of the burning gas from the tall tower is an exciting and magnificent sight depicting a new era of industrial development in Papua New Guinea.
I have seen natural gas burning from the end of a piece of metal pipe sticking out of the ground on top of a hill or down on a valley in the Kutubu and Hides gas fields wilderness. But to see a picture of natural gas from way up in the Southern Highlands burning from a tower in Port Moresby after flowing through 435 miles of massive
gas pipelines onshore and offshore, under deep waters to reach the LNG export site in Port Moresby, is incredible engineering work.
The news about Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas being ready for export is indeed an important historic and momentous event for PNG.
It is even more exciting to know that ExxonMobil Corporation, a world class leader in petroleum projects development and marketing, developed the LNG Project and trained Papua New Guineans in some amazing project engineering work during the construction phase.
The benefits from the export of LNG gas to Asian markets will meet
a demand for clean energy in the region and according to Oil Search Limited, “transforming for the country” just as the nation wanted the extraction and export of petroleum resources to produce.
King Solomon once said: “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 6:8).
Indeed, the PNG LNG industrial project is a marvellous and wonderful achievement.
Igiri, egarabagi, arondo, biraga. Dr John Hamau Kavieng
The views expressed on these pages are the opinions of our readers. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Post-Courier – Editor
ON MARCH 5, 2015, Prime Minister
Peter O’Neill visited Kagua-Erave for the second time and announced major projects for the electorate.
From the people of Kagua-Erave, we say a heartfelt thank you to you, Prime Minister.
We thank you for visiting the electorate and seeing for yourself whether or not there has been development taking place, given the fact that so much in terms of DSG, DSIP and all other forms of district development funds were being paid to the electorate over the years.
Prime Minister, you were absolutely correct to point out that this electorate has been neglected by leadership over the years despite substantial amounts of money received by the district administration.
Despite millions of public funds received by the province and the electorate from the proceeds of Kutubu and Gobe oil projects, there is very little, if any, to show for it on the ground.
The neighbouring Ialibu-Pangia
KAGUA-ERAVE: Kagua-Erave is a district of the Southern Highlands Province. Its capital is Kagua. The population was 74,139 at the 2011 census.
LLG: The main LLG consists of Aiya (Wabi – Sumi), Kagua Central, Kuare, Erave, and is the home to the Kewabi speakers. It borders Lake Kutubu, Ialibu-Pangia and Imbonggu districts. It also shares a provincial border with Western and Gulf provinces. Most basic services such as schools, health services and bridges are less or non existent in remote parts.
district has developed over the years since the Prime Minister entered Parliament and his people are enjoying basic government services. Leaders who Kagua-Erave has elected over the years appear to be blind and not see the developments in Ialibu-Pangia and emulate them.
Whilst Kagua-Erave district’s five year development plan has been launched, that in itself is not the
Intending candidates are urged to nominate candidates are to nominate early instead of rushing at the last minute and instead of at the last minute and getting disappointed at missing out Any last at out. last minute nomination may be made with the minute nomination may be made with the returning officer ... at Kokopo. officer ... at
solution to bring about development. Proper application of funds to service delivery and project developments are key to developing the electorate. The over-the-counter cash withdrawals of the electorate’s development funds running into millions of kina is the cause of lack of developments in the electorate. It is a cause for serious concern.
While the National Government funds big projects like the EraveSamberigi-Kikori Road link and the sealing of the Ialibu-Kagua-Erave Road, a vital service like electricity connection from Ialibu to Kagua can be adequately funded by the electorate’s own development funds. Funding for the electorate’s health and education infrastructure such as Kagua and Erave health centres, Kagua High School, Kagua High School bridge, staff houses, among others, can be funded by the electorate’s administration. If only the funds do not disappear into thin air.
Once again, Prime Minister, a big heartfelt thank you from the people of Kagua-Erave.
I READ Post-Courier’s “the drum” on Friday, March 13, 2015. I agree that it is Koroba-Kopiago MP Philip Undialu’s right to choose his wife. Since his wedding to his Filipino wife (Mrs Undialu), there have been social media speculations about his right to choose a wife. The MP’s privacy was invaded. I am saddened at these behaviour towards him and I disagree with what people are posting on social media.
I support him as my member and my country man. I would like to extend these simple message to those people who use social media to attack the MP’s character;
1) If you are an intending candidate in 2017, I suggest you pre-plan your time and resources towards unseating the MP rather than involving in such acts;
2) If you are a student exercising your freedom of speech, I suggest you focus your priorities on your studies, as they are more important; and,
3) If you are a person who has a personal vendetta against Mr Undialu, I suggest you act positively towards the situation rather than stress yourself. This could lead to you suffering a cardiac arrest.
As for my member, I salute you for
I would like to question why logging is not a reserved business for citizens? Does it require some sort of expertise that we don’t have to operate a chainsaw or a bulldozer? With all the talk about SMEs, reserved businesses and reserving land for citizens only, why are we still allowing foreigners to reap the benefits of our resources that should be ours? Millions of kina go overseas every month that should be staying in the country. We build our own houses out of rubbish imported from Asia while all of our beautiful hardwood is being shipped overseas. When will we wake up and stop this ridiculous practise that only benefits the corrupt few?
Concerned Citizen
your continuous efforts in developing the electorate. Your struggles during your term have been well received by your people of KorobaKopiago. I am grateful for your commitment and loyalty in leading us.
In addition, I would like to wish you and your wife a happy marriage and more importantly, we look forward to more development for our people.
Best regards,
Irai Lai Via email
Good thinking Papua New Guineans from all corners of the nation must rise now and rescue this country, its resources and people. The current crop of leaders have lost direction in making rational and informed decisions on important national issues. Controversial bills like “legalising prostitution”, the idea to implement “capital punishment” (death penalty), among others, need rethinking. Our leaders lack God’s wisdom to correctly understand the basic principles and foundations that hold the Constitution. Our systems and laws must be upheld. Those are the basic and core values that hold the 830-plus different groups of languages and people together. That is the uniqueness and the identity of Papua New Guinea. The government must not be fooled by foreign elements who say the ideas of legalising prostitution and death penalty will work effectively here. These are foreign concepts. The Spirit of our Constitution contradicts such ideas. We should not
limit ourselves. The recent headline in the media stating PNG as a “porn obsessed” nation will not go unchallenged. There are evil forces from all directions trying to distract the attention of our leaders. Being a Christian country, all decisions concerning its people, resources and the country itself must be based on Christian principles. For example, the development of our Constitution was inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit. Almost all clauses, sections and sub-sections that make up the Constitution has a Christian connotation. The world is changing rapidly and many socioeconomic factors are bombarding our leaders from thinking properly to make informed decisions. The increased technology has posed many socio-economic challenges for our leaders. Our leaders are slowly diverting their mindset away from their primary role of upholding the rule of law. In the current term of parliament, more than one quarter of our MPs are being referred to Ombudsman Commission for breaching the Leadership Code. This calls for a team of honest, transparent and just leaders. And these are leaders who will uphold the law of the land (government) and God’s laws at all times to serve the people with love and fairness.
Michael Drake K KayapeThere is a particular private clinic operating out of a club in Port Moresby. The clinic has no other staff except for a doctor. The doctor is alleged to have been a TB patient since August 2014. The PNG Medical Board must explain to the public why an individual with a contagious disease is allowed to treat people. Please close down this “clinic” immediately.
Toby Kuri Armanisays. Feb 23, 2005 10 years ago
is increasing, Community Development Minister Dame Carol
Tomuriesa and the PNG Police Union Association have launched a new Police Association Benevolent Fund scheme last week.
The scheme was initiated by Mr Tomuriesa to meet the welfare needs of members of the Police Association when financial crisis pops up.
According to Mr Tomuriesa, it was a legal entity scheme and was first taken on board by officers in his ministry.
“The forest officers were very satisfied and contented as
NEW POLICE SCHEME: Forest Minister Dauglas Tomuriesa and the PNG Police Union Association have launched a new Police Association Benevolent Fund scheme yesterday
INITIATIVE: The scheme was initiated by Mr Tomuriesa to meet the welfare needs of members of the Police Association
INTEREST RATE: For every K100 an officer borrows, he or she repays the Forest Authority an additional K10 interest
it enormously helped them in accordance to their financial commitments,” he said.
Mr Tomuriesa said for every K100 an officer borrows, he or she repays the Forest Authority
an additional K10 interest, unlike a K50 interest on a K100.
He said so far, this was seen as a problem-solving idea for borrowers who are faced with financial institutions and indi-
viduals who sell money. “We welcome other ministries and their departments to join so that public servants can have enough to consume as the demand in the city is very high,” Mr Tomuriesa said.
He said the K30,000 capital money from the scheme was raised by the Forest Authority staff.
They witnessed the launching with the Minister for Mining and MP for Namatanai Byron Chan, the Police Union Association general secretary Clemence Kanau and police union representatives.
A STAND-OFF between Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso and provincial administrator Solomon Tato appears to have been averted.
Ms Soso acknowledged that the Provincial Executive Council (PEC), which she chairs, does not have the legal jurisdiction to revoke Mr Tato’s appointment.
She confirmed this in writ-
ing to Mr Tato on Saturday to resume duties after the PEC last week hastily revoked the latter’s appointment, citing insubordination and various other allegations.
Mr Tato however, maintained that he was the duly appointed administrator and had continued to serve the province despite the notice which was served on him.
Ms Soso said yesterday that
in the interest of the 600,000plus people of EHP and continuity of the provincial administration, she had asked Mr Tato to resume duties.
Ms Soso said the PA’s appointment was dubious because certain processes, like the recommendation of the PEC, was not taken into consideration.
She said, that has eventually resulted in a non-favour-
able working relationship between her and Mr Tato.
“For the interest of my people and in the interest of continuity of service delivery, I have decided to recall Mr Tato to resume duties while our concerns are dealt with by higher authorities.
“Solomon and I can work together for the common good of our people and our administration,” she said.
THE Multi-Drug resistant tuberculosis will be one of the topics of discussion at this year’s annual conference for the Christian Health Services.
Deputy chief executive officer of CHS Bernard Rumat confirmed that MDR-TB will feature prominently at the conference. He said the discussion would touch on betelnut and how this
is contributing to the spreading of TB, especially in the capital city of Port Moresby. He said other topics will be on the four key result areas of the national health plan 2011 – 2015.
CHS comprises Christian churches that are providing health services. It also provides the bulk of the health services in the rural areas.
The conference will be held in Port Moresby from April 1317. It will be opened by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Chairman of the CHS board White Kintak said betelnut chewing was contributing to the imminent health crisis, Multi-Drug Resistant TB.
“All responsible citizens need to treat this health issue with care. If we are not careful then
TB will take an upward trend, this include betelnut chewing because it can be a contributing factor to spread TB easily.
“We support NCD governor to stop betelnut sale in the city, I hope it can be done in other centres around the country as well,’’ he said.
But betelnut is still being sold openly in many parts of the city despite the ban.
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THE Kairuku-Hiri District
in the Central Province is said to be one of the areas where cultivation of the drug marijuana is high.
National Narcotics Bureau acting coordinator for education and awareness Lawrence Tau said last year, about more than 4000 marijuana plants were found grown in the Mekeo area along the Hiritano Highway and is expected to grow wildly.
A NEW charity organisation has been formed in the Afore rural local level government in the Ijivitari district of Northern.
The group, named DOWS, an abbreviation for disability, orphans and widows, was formed with a membership of more than 200 members across all sectors of the LLG area who are disabled persons, orphans and widows classified as less privileged.
The group’s founder Hellen Keipa said she initiated the formation of the organisation to be a voice for the
group she observed as underprivileged, oppressed and ignored when it comes to sharing and participation in the all forms of development in the LLG area.
“ The policies of the gov-
ernment to include persons living with disabilities carries a lot of weight on paper stacked away nicely in the shelves collecting dust however, lacks practical reality thus, equal opportunity for all citizens is not realized,”
Mrs Keipa said.
Certain percentage of the seven million people in Papua New Guinea is made of up of disabled, orphans and underprivileged persons such as widows and single parents who become less fortunate when competing for government services
in their communities. It is always the well known, healthy and energetic who receive better services. She reiterated that rural areas in Papua New Guinea were worse off because of the lack of adequate government services that reach out.
“Likewise Afore Rural Local Government area is one such area and hopefully the formation of this organization will blow the whistle louder to all state authorities, donor agencies and humanitarian organisations including Members
of the Parliament from the area,” she stressed.
This group of people must be assisted directly because they are Papua New Guineans who are entitled for equal treatment and participation as stated in the constitution.
The charity organization aims to seek assistance from government authorities and agencies including humanitarian organisation in cash, kind and goods to fairly and equally support the welfare of the members.
“The cultivation of this drug is increasing nationwide and is sold openly in local markets,” he said.
He said the usage of this drug is abused and those involved in cultivating this drug should stop and destroy it as it also poses a health risk especially to youths of this country.
He said such drug is also wildly grown in other parts of the country mainly in the Highlands region, Abau district and Northern Province.
Under a school based strategy, the social change and mental health to gather with National Narcotics Bureau have consolidated ideas to gather to visit schools and talk to them about mental health and all about drugs.
With the high number of drug abuse in school aged population, the bureau together with the Department of Health’s social change and mental health division carried out awareness last Friday.
“The policies of govt to include PLWD caries alot of weight
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PATRON of Digicel Foundation’s men of honour awards, NCD Governor Powes Parkop was delighted that most nominees of the awards were from the Highlands region.
FOUNDER of Simbu
Children’s Foundation and winner of Digicel Foundation men of honour award, Jimmy Drekore has credited his Mother as the inspiration behind his awards.
Mr Drekore’s passion lay in providing answers for the sick and disadvantaged children of his home Province, Simbu.
The organisation operates on a voluntary model which he describes as a “labour
of love”. “Growing up, my mother was my mentor. She would go out of her way to look after the poor and
neglected and I never took much notice of it until she passed away,” Mr Drekore said.
He said the foundation which he established was born on the death bed of his mother, Barpina Drekore, when she passed away in 2004, and has been running for 11 years now.
“It hit me really hard, and when I started helping out in the hospital then, I felt like my mother’s spirit was in me.
“This passion to go out of
my way to look after other people who are disadvantaged comes from my mother,” said Mr Drekore.
He is an analytical chemist by profession and had worked with Lihir Gold Mine for 14 years before retiring in 2013 to pursue his passion full on.
Mr Drekore was announced the 2014 Digicel Foundation men of honour, out of fourteen finalists in five different categories.
He was winner of Digicel sponsored community lead-
er category beating leader of the Task Force Sweep Sam Koim by a slight margin before taking out the major men of honour award among the winners of the other four categories.
Winners of the other categories included Mamindi Pym in the community entrepreneur category, Wamala Ila in the community education champion category, Pinjiki Wak in the community ingenuity group and Alu Poka as winner of the sporting mentor award.
He acknowledged that the men of honour awards was a campaign against violence in PNG and was impressed with the fact that most of those nominated were from the Highlands, considering that this is a region in Papua New Guinea were violence is evidently present.
Digicel Foundation CEO Beatrice Mahuru said the reputation that the country holds on the international outset is a negative one in regard to violence, thus her foundation came up with the initiative of the men of gonour awards, to recognise men who go out of their way to make a change in their communities.
Governor Parkop said Papua New Guinea, although blessed, is affected by a number of impediments such as geographical terrain which is natural while others are social aspects in which corruption and violence is obviously a part.
“Recent studies have shown that everyone has directly or indirectly come face to face with violence, especially fear of violence,” the Governor said.
“This has caused a lot of problems to the potential of our people and our nation.”
Growing up my mother was my mentor ...JIMMY DREKORE Port Moresby
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THE Government’s free education policy seems to have come with a corresponding policy of free weapons for schools in the Sialum LLG of Tewai-Siassi district in Morobe Province.
Visit any of the 14 primary schools within the Sialum LLG today, and you would be sure not to miss the sight of male students carrying bush knives without any restrictions.
Waking up in the morning and heading to school with a side bag filled with books and pencil and a bush knife on the other hand is part of the daily routine of every boy in Sialum schools.
During a visit to the Kanzarua Primary School last week, headmaster Baka Kilang admitted that this an unwelcoming sight and even the teachers are kept under duress.
“Anything can happen in this society where cultural practices are strong and collide with western influence having a drastic impact on students, especially boys,”
FREE WEAPONS: The current Free Education Policy seem to have come with a comprehending policy of free weapons for schools in the Sialum LLG of Tewai-Siassi District in Morobe Province.
COMMON SIGHT: Visit any of the 14 primary schools within the Sialum LLG anytime today, and the sight of every male student cladding varied machete like knives is a common sight without restrictions.The sight of knives in classrooms points to a great deaf measures in students.
said Mr Kilang. He said the feeling of insecurity even during religious or social gatherings is very high with at least a single hand held weapon is on hand by everyone around you. He added that the sight of knives in classrooms is a sign of students being heavily influenced by ethnic rivalries.
RURAL Papua New Guinea is yet to reach a recognised level of disaster awareness as a global phenomenon.
The United Nations (UN), through its disaster arm known as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in PNG and based in the Morobe Province have made the remarks.
IOM Disaster risk reduction program coordinator in Morobe Simon Kafu says PNG is yet grasp the disaster preparedness before, during and after natural disasters occur in PNG.
Kafu said the norm in PNG right now is that when disasters strike, all eyes turn to the government for funding and relief supplies assistance.
Kafu said but the IOM is a inter government organization and not an NGO that empowers the community as a whole with a do it yourself mindset.
“It’s all about mindset changes and being responsible instead of running to the government every time disaster strikes,” said Kafu.
“That is why the Chivasing and Tararan villages in Markham continue to be submerged and the Kumalu River in Bulolo wreaks havoc of food gardens year in year out because the community is being
DISASTER AWARENESS: RURAL Papua New Guinea is yet to reach a recognised level of disaster awareness as a global phenomenon. The UN through its disaster arm based in Morobe have made the remarks.
responsible, adds Kafu. Kafu agrees that of course every year there is money parked to address disasters in PNG but the money is used for a very different purpose as disasters are not planned activities that strike on its own accord.
He said instead what IOM has been tasked with and is doing in PNG in partnership with respective provincial disaster offices and stakeholders is to inform and create a level of disaster preparedness that is sustainable once IOM bails out.
“In other words the level of disaster preparedness does not shift the blame but it’s about taking ownership of one’s own backyard. Right in PNG, this trend is lacking,” said Mr Kafu.
He said the IOM is now concentrating on climate change that results in migration due to floods, tsunamis, and other disasters.
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TECHNICAL officials in East New Britain Province have estimated the cost of damages to infrastructure especially roads following recent strong winds and heavy rain in the last couples of days to be over K20 million.
ENB technical services adviser
Charles Warwala, who was speaking during an awareness program on the local NBC Radio station, said the cost of destruction to infrastructure in the province including the island local level governments of Duke of York and Watom Islands and Pomio district was estimated to be K24 million following an assessment by a technical team.
The province, like other parts of PNG, has been affected by strong winds and heavy rain causing flooding, landslips as well as destruction to roads and power supply.
Mr Warwala commended the technical team for the assessment and the report which has been presented to the National Government.
A provincial team consisting of provincial government and technical officials, PNG Power officials, Department of Works and contrac-
A 56-year-old father who was found guilty of four counts of willfully exposing his private parts to his eldest daughter and two counts of incest against his younger daughter has been sentenced to nine years and six months in prison by the National Court in Kokopo.
The other two co-accused were sentenced to seven years each however, the court suspended two years from their sentences and both will serve five years each.
The accused, William Lakuna, and two other men were found guilty by the National Court and convicted of various charges of sexual offences committed against two sisters on different occasions.
Judge Salatiel Lenalia handed down the decision last week, after conducting a joint trial because one of the two sister complainants was the victim of sexual penetration by the three accused.
The court found Lakuna committed all offences to his blood daughters, at unknown dates between January and December 2011 or even prior to that year 2012, at their kitchen and dining room at the family home at Putanagororoi village, East New Britain Province.
The other two accused, Jack Matalau and Robert Tiotam, were each found guilty of one count of persistent sexual penetration against the younger daughter of William Lakuna, who was under the age of 16, in the same village on separate occasions.
The law prohibits all forms of sexual activities with under-age girls of less than 16 years and those victims above these ages on the crime of rape. Justice Lenalia outlined in
INCEST: A 56-year-old man sentenced to more than nine years for having sex with his daughter and also exposing himself to another, elder daughter. MORE SEX CRIME: Two other men were also found guilty by the same court for committing various sexual offences against the same two sisters on different ocassions. These two others got lesser sentences of seven years each for their sickening sex crimes
the case of the accused Matalau, he sexually penetrated the younger victim on three separate occasions in 2008, while Tiotam also sexually penetrated the same victim several times in the same period.
Matalau, also from Putanagororoi, is married with four children and was having sexual relations with the younger victim, but the victim never told anyone about the affair until caught by another person who reported it to the village committee.
It was then that Matalau, who is also an uncle to the victim, revealed that the victim had existing sexual relations with her own father Lakuna and Tiotam.
Tiotam, from Rau village on Watom Island, is married to Putanagororoi village and was an active member of community programs and church activities.
Justice Lenalia said compensation was negotiated by village and church elders however he does not consider it, as the victims have expressed concern that compensation should not be paid.
tors has been hard at work over the last couple of days to provide normalcy and allow services to reach the people.
A number of schools have also been affected according to Mr Warwala.
He said a couple of feeder roads in the province were cut off and with the limited resources that they have, they have engaged contractors to assist in making sure roads were accessible to the general public.
He urged the people to contact the nearest district office to report any such problems in their communities.
ENB Disaster Coordinator Donald Tokunai said they needed the cooperation of the people adding that they were putting in a big effort to minimize the problems faced in the province due to bad weather conditions.
He also said they will be traveling down to Pomio District this week to carry out an assessment of the damages done.
He also said there have been reports of casualties and he called on the people to look after their families at this time.
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ALL BOUGAINVILLEANS
eligible to cast their votes in the 2015 ABG General Election have about three weeks left to get their names enrolled. If they fail to get enrolled, then they will not be able to cast their votes during the polling period.
Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu, when issuing the call for voters to get enrolled, said no new enrolments will be accepted after the issue of writs.
“This month is the month of enrolment so all Bougainvilleans 18 years and above should ensure that their names are registered on the roll. If your name is not on the roll then you will not cast your vote during the polling period,” said Mr Manu.
According to the election schedule, the writ should be issued towards the end of this month.
Mr Manu said he will be briefing Speaker Andrew Miriki sometimes this week on these scheduled election dates, before adding that announcements on the election calendar should be made next week.
ACTING
Bougainville Electoral Commissioner is appealing to people not to get involved in spreading false information concerning the election scheduled dates.
Mr George Manu had issued this notice following reports received that certain people had already spread false information on the election dates.
“I am appealing to people not to spread false information concerning the scheduled election dates because we do not want people to have false expectations,” said Mr Manu.
“The election dates have already been set but only awaiting the ABG Speaker Andrew Miriki to give his blessing before I can make
the announcement,” he added.
A number of voters have already fronted up at the Office of the acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner enquiring about the date for the issue of writs. Many said they had received information that the initial date for the issue of writs had already
passed and they are now questioning the commission if the coming election is on schedule. However Mr Manu while clarifying their query said the election is still on schedule and that shortly he will be briefing Mr Miriki on the election dates before announcements can be made on the election calendar.
According to the scheduled
election dates, the issue of writ will take place towards the end of March, while three days nomination will take place in early April. There will be six weeks of campaigning, followed by two weeks of polling to be held from the middle of May to the end of May. The writ will be returned in early June.
THE OFFICE of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner is currently drafting a regulation for the introduction of the special voting services.
This regulation, once approved, will now see Bougainvilleans casting their votes during polling periods at locations not within their constituency or regions.
Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu, when making this announcement, said the regulation is currently being drafted by election advisors currently assisting the Bougainville Electoral
Commission in preparing for the 2015 ABG General Election.
Mr Manu said after completing the regulation, he will be presenting it to the Bougainville Executive Council for consideration and approval.
The special voting system was never used in Bougainville in the past elections so once approved, it will signify another milestone for the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner.
“Once this is approved, then voters, especially those not living in their constituencies or regions, will now have the chance to cast their votes in poll-
ing booths located where they are staying,” said Mr Manu. “Though I have been encouraging all voters to return to their constituencies during the polling period to cast their votes, at the same time we have not forgotten you.
“As I have always been saying, this election is very crucial to Bougainvilleans so the Bougainville Electoral Commission is aiming for all voters to have the chance to cast their votes. And one of the ways to achieve this is the introduction of the special voting services,” said Mr Manu.
BOUGAINVILLEANS living outside of Bougainville have been urged to go to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) offices located near them and get enrolled so that they can be eligible to vote in the 2015 ABG General Election.
Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu while making this announcement said his office had identified five locations in the country that Bougainvilleans can go to
enrol their names.
These include Port Moresby, East New Britain, Madang, Goroka and Lae in the Morobe Province.
However, Mr Manu said those not in these five provinces can also go to the PNGEC offices in their respective provinces to get enrolled, before adding that their enrolment information will also be sent to his office in Buka for compilation into the final electoral roll that will be
used during the election.
“BOB enrolment is now on so those eligible can go to these five places and fill in your claim for enrolment. Those not in these five centres can also go and fill in their claim for enrolment forms at the PNGEC offices in the respective provinces you are living in,” said Mr Manu.
Apart from the enrolment exercise, Mr Manu said polling will also be conducted in these five locations.
BY PATRICK T WUNDAI
STATE Owned Enterprises (SOEs) should use each others strengths and weaknesses through partnering and synergising to grow their efficiency in providing services.
Reflecting on Post PNG’s experience, Board chairman Reuben Aila said, if all SOEs can synergise, he is sure all mountains can be moved.
Aila said following the de-merging of Post PNG with previous partners like Telikom PNG and Papua New Guinea Authority Telecommunications (PANGTEL), the company had struggled a lot.
However, he highlighted that about a year ago, Post Logistics has
The bottom line
turned their business around and started knocking on doors to work with sister SOE’s.
Given this new technological approach, they have been able to
expand links with other organisations such as Nambawan Super and PNG Ports Corporation.
Aila stressed that Post PNG’s latest partnership with new SOE DataCo, to lease their infrastructure as DataCo’s Customer Point of Interconnect and later on to provide logistics, is one significant and unique move that will leverage efficiency for both companies and enhance business. “We’ve partnered with DataCo contractors in an understanding where we do clearance of all their equipment that come from China or overseas, then we deliver to their point of location; it’s like a one stop shop.
According to Aila, Post Logistics
has been the company’s growth opportunity to provide services of express courier, express air, and road and sea freight, freight redistribution, as well as customs clearance.
“We’ve done that in the last three weeks where we’ve moved about more than 8 containers worth about a million or so; and if we continue doing that over a month, that’s how we both can synergise and leverage to grow the business,” he says.
“We are grateful to our partners and government agencies in helping us grow our business and with continued support, especially from SOEs, I’m sure we will grow this little postal service and service our people as we’re suppose to.”
Small businesses employ 54.4 million people, about 57.3 percent of the private workforce.
We’ve partnered with DataCo contractors in an understanding where we do clearance of all their equipment ...
REUBEN AILA Port MoresbyEVEN in the wet weather the markets are still selling fresh garden food like this one at Konedobu. MARKET IN THE RAIN
INTERNET and information transfer costs in the country will be reduced by at least70 per cent, PNG DataCo, the national wholesale provider of high-speed broadband service in the country revealed.
Paul Komboi said the price reduction may begin as soon as existing assets; Telikom PNG’s APNG2 and PPC1 and PPL’s OPGW are transferred over and consolidated under DataCo.
initial stage and then eventually reducing down to 80 and so forth within the next three to five years.
PAULDataCo will carry out a series of projects, one being the second summary cable project to commence at the end of this month, allowing the country the opportunity of efficient internet access at an affordable cost in the next three to five years.
DataCo managing director
“IPBC is going through a process now to release these assets to us; and if that happens, we’ll be able to reduce prices significantly from day one, when they bring over the assets.
“From calculations we’ve made, we’ll be able to reduce the cost from 40 per cent in the
“So if the sooner we get those existing assets across, we will be able to give consumers the price that they’re asking for; and in relation to the new assets, once we complete the construction phase then we’ll be able to deliver those service and further reduce the price,” said Komboi. He said DataCo has already spoken with high-speed retailers in the country and
are firming up arrangements with them, who, according to him, are happy with the prices offered and are willing to come on board with DataCo as soon as the project is up and running.
DataCo was established in early 2014 through an NEC decision to develop a wholesale only telecommunications National Transmission Network (NTN).
DataCo’s role now is to provide wholesale high-speed to retailers such as Telikom PNG, Digicel and Bemobile.
INTEROIL Corporation (InterOil) has appointed former Singapore Power chief financial officer Chee Keong Yap to its board.
Mr Yap, 54, who is a director of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore, is also a director of ARA Asset Management Ltd, The Straits Trading Company Limited, and Tiger Airways Holdings Limited, all of which are listed on the Singapore Exchange.
He chairs the audit committee of the non-listed Citibank Singapore Limited. He is the chairman of CityNet Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd and a member of Singapore’s Public Accountants Oversight Committee. He sat on the working group of the Corporate Governance Oversight Committee of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Mr Yap has had a long career as an executive director, chief financial officer and adviser to Singaporean and Australian firms, including the Straits Trading Company Limited, Singapore Power Limited, SPI (Australia) Assets Pty Ltd and multi-national and Temasek-linked companies.
Mr Yap has an accounting degree from the National University of Singapore and is a fellow of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, CPA Australia and the Singapore Institute of Directors.
He joins the board immediately, replacing Samuel L. Delcamp who is retiring after three years as a director.
InterOil chairman Chris Finlayson said Mr Yap had a proven record over many years of value creation across multi-national listed and nonlisted companies.
THE POINT of Presence (PoP) for PNG DataCo Limited (DataCo) is now within the people’s reach when it further strengthened its relationship with Post PNG last Friday through signing of a lease agreement.
DataCo chairman Reuben Kautu said the agreement for DataCo to rent space from Post PNG to house its customer point of intercon-
nection in Port Moresby and later in the Highlands region, will not only benefit the two sister SOEs, but will by far benefit the people at large through services achieved in this arrangement.
Managing director Paul Komboi elaborated that DataCo will be partnering Post PNG in their various sites or key provinces and districts to host DataCo equipment for other retailers to come and connect to; these are points
called the ‘communication points of interconnection’.
Mr Kautu added that Post PNG was the right choice of partner given their existing infrastructure, to look at operating in areas they exist throughout the country, so wherever Post PNG customers are, DataCo can present its customers to them as well. He further said this partnership will make Post PNG the forefront of DataCo to further realise the government’s
dream of connecting PNG, to ensure the people (including business houses) can access quality ICT services at affordable prices.
Mr Komboi pointed out that there were two aspects in the partnership; the primary being lease space for housing equipment and secondary to engage Post PNG in areas of logistics.
“We have managed to secure an understanding with our major contractors that Post
PNG will be their sole exclusive logistics provider in delivering our goods to various locations that we have already selected and identified our vendors,” he said.
Post PNG chief executive officer Greyling Park on behalf of the company thanked DataCo for choosing them as a partner to deliver much needed service provided by DataCo thoughout the country.
“His experience in executive management, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, governance and finance will provide InterOil with an additional skill set that will be necessary as we develop our Elk-Antelope LNG project in Papua New Guinea,” Mr Finlayson said.
“His knowledge of the Singapore energy market will be particularly helpful as Singapore continues to grow as an important trading hub for LNG in Asia.”
Mr Finlayson also paid tribute to Mr Delcamp for his loyal service to the company.
THE FINANCE Department and the World Bank (WB) have released a report with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening corporate financial reporting and auditing practices in the country.
The report released last Friday was undertaken at the request of the Government of PNG to guide improvements in PNG’s business environment, and advance governance and financial accountability in
corporations, State Owned Enterprises, and financial sector entities that are of public interest.
The Report on Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) found that improving corporate financial reporting and auditing systems of the country will advance public and private accountability, create investor confidence, boost economic growth and support future market growth.
Acting Secretary of Finance
Ken Ngangan, commenting on the report, said reliable and transparent accounting and auditing practices is a priority for his department.
“The recommendations from this report will be used to strengthen the quality of financial reporting for the business environment and also bring our practices up to par with international standards,” said Mr Ngangan.
It was alluded that findings from the report will ultimately help PNG channel revenue from resources into investments that positively impact peoples’ lives.
WB Country manager Steffi Stallmeister said it is vital to have good corporate financial reporting and auditing systems in place so benefits of these resources can be felt by the whole of Papua New Guinea community.
The price reduction may begin as soon as existing assets are transferred over and consolidated under DataCo ...
KOMBOI Port Moresby
A SOCIETY that does not look after the health and welfare of its citizens is a sick society, a businessman said.
Johnston Tia, founding director of the country’s largest health insurance company; Pacific Assurance Group, reiterated his call that the government must initiate urgent solutions to problems facing the health system in its current form.
Mr Tia while correcting an article which attributed PAG as a broker saying, “PAG is in fact a health and general insurance company, and not a broker” stressed that companies, government departments and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) responsible for health care would create a dynamic and responsive private health care industry.
Mr Tia also believes funding of health care is one of the country’s most pressing
INCREASING the wild stock of Barramundi in their natural habitat is the prime focus for the aquaculture hatchery project in Daru for 2015.
Formerly known as Western Province Sustainable Aquaculture project under the umbrella of PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd, the project is now being managed by OK Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) and making progress with the largest ever crop of barramundi fingerlings spawned and currently in production.
Daru hatchery supervisor and technical expert Efran Adie and pontoon supervisor Jason Tigaru with the assistance of 10 staff, began 2015 with another successful spawning on January 7.
An estimated total of 35,000 healthy, fast growing fingerlings, ranging in size from 20 to 60 milimetres (mm) are now ready for sale and distribution for either re-stocking or farming purposes.
Mr Adie explained that once a graded fingerling reaches 50mm, it is ready to be released into its natural habitat to feed off natural food sources to then grow into an adult fish.
“This is the biggest crop of fingerlings since the (aquaculture) project began under the PNGSDP. We are very happy that Mr Middleton and OTDF have stepped in and supported us to achieve this. With sales confirmed we are already planning for spawning another crop of fish late next month,” he said.
10,000 fingerlings from this crop have been purchased by National Fisheries Authority and will be flown to Port Moresby to stock Sirinumu Dam.
The majority of the remaining fingerlings will be released into Lake Murray habitat starting in April. Lake Murray has been identified as an ideal habitat for both restocking and cage farming with successful trials already conducted at Lake Kindam in 2013.
Mr Tigaru is also constructing an 8-cage nursery pontoon to enable air lifting of larger numbers of smaller size fingerlings from the hatchery to the lake.
Mr Adie said as Barramundi numbers are declining due to over-fishing, re-stocking fish numbers is very important for the Fly River system.
“When fish numbers increase through re-stocking over time, then potential fish farmers can help themselves by venturing into commercial scale fish farming. At the moment, we are focusing on increasing those fish numbers.”
issues that needs attention from both the public and private sectors where thousands of Papua New Guineans are being employed.
Mr Tia told Post-Courier; “PNG looks at countries like Australia and refer to Medicare as an example of what we should be doing, but in reality Medicare only funds a very small percentage of the overall Australian health budget.
“Some companies currently
insure their employees for the cost of health care, with companies like PAG, which is PNG’s largest health insurance company. But not nearly enough,” the insurer said. He indicated that many companies, government departments and SOE’s do not have any insurance cover in place.
“By transferring the cost of health care to those who can afford to pay for it, such as these bodies, government
funds can be released to concentrate on health care spending for those who cannot afford to pay for it themselves, in rural or city areas.
“Making companies, government departments and SOE’s responsible for health care would create a dynamic and responsive private health care industry,” Mr Tia added.
He stressed that no trade or business in other countries existed without being insured.
The soft spoken businessmen said being insured was one way to promote growth and continuity of locally-owned businesses.
He said Papua New Guinea’s public service sector does not have life insurance cover for its human resource.
“I want to stress that the government and the SOEs really need to be involved and appreciate that insurance is the backbone to economic development,” he added.
Nowadays, a lot of fake Smartphone’s are on the market. Most Smartphone users feel cheated and complain about this incident. There are a few people who are already familiar with the existence of this fake Smartphone while most people are still not aware of the difference. And one of the many fake Smartphone’s on
the market is the Samsung Galaxy S5.
INTERFACE
•When the Smartphone is turned on, the screen on the original Samsung has a smooth picture which is sharper, nice and not broken. While the fake has a sharpness and colour that are less clear.
•In terms of camera quality,
original Galaxy S5 displays sharp and crisp images while with the fake Samsung, the resulting image looks ugly and dull.
•On the LED flash, Samsung’s original is white while the fake Samsung as a yellow colour.
SOFTWARE
•For the completeness of the application, the origi-
nal S5 is not equipped with applications like WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook. While the fake S4 has those three applications built-in.
•In the original Samsung menu, Air Gesture equipped with many options, Beam and NFC can be used. The fake Samsung, Air Gesture menu has only 2 options, the menu Beam and NFC cannot
be used because it only has 2 options of writing.
•When performing tests using applications, utilities, or Quadrant, Antutu, Identifier CPU and CPU-Z, the chipset detected on the fake Galaxy S5 is MediaTek or MTK.
•To prove if the phone is genuine or fake, test the
Samsung Galaxy S5 using the Samsung Kies application. If a Smartphone can read as the Samsung Galaxy S5, the Smartphone is genuine. Whereas if it cannot read the Samsung Kies application, then the Smartphone is fake. So shoppers, don’t be fooled by the fake Galaxy S5 and purchase an original one today.
AUSTRALIANS and Pacific Islanders living in Australia will be able to watch the 2015 Pacific Games in the comfort of their own home, after the Games Organising Committee awarded the Australian broadcast rights to the National Indigenous Television (NITV).
NITV is a channel managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and is part of the SBS output on Channel 34. It will also have non-exclusive online rights within Australia.
Former rugby union great Mark Ella will provide specialist commentary alongside sports broadcaster, Evan Charlton.
The Games run from 4 to 18 July, 2015. The Games will be preceded on 2 July by a one-day Pacific Investment Seminar, to be co-hosted by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Business Advantage International. Games Organising Committee Executive Manager, Clint Flood, says NITV’s national links to indigenous people in Australia and Torres Straight Islands provides an additional cultural link to the Pacific Games.
NITV joins NBC, Click TV, EMTV, Solomon TV, Fiji One TV, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Vanuatu television and Broadcast Corporation, Samoa Quality Broadcast Corporation, Cook Islands TV, France TV and Solomon Telekom Television Ltd as broadcast rights holders. www.bapng.com
MORE than 400 students and parents in Lae attended a Career Orientation yesterday, 12 March, conducted by Paradise International Education Consultancy (PIEC) on how to study in the Philippines.
Managing Director of PIEC Kenneth Chow ran the orientation which featured the quality of the education in the Philippines and the variety of degree programs and universities students can choose from.
PIEC is an organization based in Cebu City, Philippines, and also heads an office in Port Moresby. It offers education placement services to students who wish to further their studies abroad.
“It is very timely that we meet now and help get the message out there so that students can start for the next uni intake which will be in June. We also help students who wish to do pilot training.”
“The quality of education in Cebu is world class. Majority of the imported skilled labour in PNG comes from Philippines so Papua New Guineans have seen the quality of the output of the Filipino education system,” Chow said.
A Pilot Career Orientation was also conducted by Royhle Flight Training Academy (RFTA) for students who want to do a pilot training. RFTA currently has 30 PNG students registered to their academy.
From Lae, the team flew to Mt Hagen and back to Port Moresby to continue the road show.
The next intake to Philippines starts in June. More than 430 PNG students are currently studying in the Philippines taking up various degree programs.
PIEC continues to conduct information sessions daily from Monday to Friday 4:00 pm at Chow Realty Showroom, Kennedy Rd, Gordons, Port Moresby. PIEC’s website is www.paradiseeducation.co.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand is upping its financial and logistics support for Vanuatu in the wake of Cyclone Pam.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully on Sunday announced an additional $NZ1.5 million ($A1.44 million) of funding, on top of the $NZ1 million signalled on Saturday.
A New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules transported eight tonnes of supplies and an initial New Zealand team to Vanuatu on Sunday and two more flights will be sent on Monday.
Air Commodore Kevin McEvoy said the Hercules carried first aids kits, tarpaulins, water containers, chainsaw packs and generators. Specialists from government agencies and the New Zealand Red Cross were also on board the Hercules.
“Pacific nations such as Vanuatu
are our friends and neighbours and we’re happy we can help at times of need,” he said. With the main airport being closed to civilian transport, the Hercules load would make a real difference, he said.
On Saturday, within hours of the disaster, an NZDF Orion aircraft based in Tonga made surveillance flights over Tuvalu to assess damage.
Vanuatu has declared a state of emergency and at least six people have died because of the cyclone, AFP reports.
“Whole villages have been blown away,” World Vision worker Chloe Morrison said.
“The homes have been absolutely completely flattened, they’re just piles of timber, and sometimes not even that,” she said.
There are 163 New Zealanders registered as being in Vanuatu.
WELLINGTON: Nearly half the population of the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu have been severely impacted by the devastation wrought by Cyclone Pam, Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga says.
While the focus has been on its larger Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, Tuvalu, a grouping of nine coral atolls with a population of less than 11,000, is also struggling to
cope, he told Radio New Zealand International.
“Forty five per cent of the population of Tuvalu, most of whom are on the outer islands, have been affected, badly, severely affected,” he said of the island chain some 1,550km northeast of Vanuatu. “We are worried about the aftermath in terms of hygiene and supplies of essentials.”
SUVA: Cyclone-devastated Vanuatu has declared a state of emergency as relief agencies desperately scrambled to get help to the impoverished Pacific nation.
The official death toll stood at least six on Sunday, although the UN had unconfirmed reports of 44 people killed in just one province after Super Cyclone Pam, a category five storm, tore through.
Oxfam said up to 90 per cent of houses in Port Vila were damaged as winds of up to 320km/h lashed the country when the storm hit Friday night. It said the scale of the disaster would not be known until reports filter in from outlying islands.
“This is likely to be one of the worst disasters ever seen in the Pacific, the scale of humanitarian need will be enormous ... entire communities have been blown away,” Oxfam’s Vanuatu director Colin Collet van Rooyen said.
Aid workers described destroyed homes, uprooted trees and blocked roads following what UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements said was “15-30 minutes of absolute terror” as the cyclone barrelled into the island.
“People have no water, they have no power, this is a really desperate situation right now, people need help,” she told AFP.
Clements said most of the dwellings on Port Vila’s impoverished outskirts, which largely consist of tin shacks, stood no chance in the ferocious bettering. “People tried to
tie down their roofs, they put bricks on them but it’s total destruction, they’ve been absolutely flattened,” she said. “I was talking to people who were sheltering in a church. It was destroyed and they had to run for their lives. People are collecting the fruit that’s been blown on the ground, then they’ll go onto their root crops and after that they’ve got no food.”
Communications remained down across most of the country, making it difficult to assess the scale of the damage, particularly on outlying islands that were directly in the storm’s path.
Oxfam’s executive director Helen Szoke said it was a “worse than worst case scenario”.
“These islands have much less infrastructure than the capital of Port Vila and are extremely remote and hard to reach in the best of times,” she said. “We hold grave fears for (these) people.”
Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office spokesman Paulo Malatu said the six confirmed deaths were all in Port Vila.
“We’re expecting that to go up as we get more information in from elsewhere,” he said, confirming a state of emergency had been declared for the entire country.
Vanuatu’s President Baldwin Lonsdale led appeals for international assistance, telling delegates at a UN conference on disaster risk reduction in Japan that he spoke with a “heart that is so heavy”.
SYDNEY: Australian aid has begun to arrive in cycloneravaged Vanuatu after Port Vila airport was reopened.
The Red Cross has confirmed international aid arrived on Sunday morning and more help will come from Australia and New Zealand as the nation grapples with the aftermath of category five Cyclone Pam. Australia has committed a “lifesaving” package of $5 million and humanitarian supplies.
Foreign Minister Julie
Bishop says the commitment follows a request from the Vanuatu government.
“This package will include $5 million that will be provided to Australian NGOs, particularly the Red Cross and to other United Nations partners,” she told reporters in Perth.
“We will also be deploying humanitarian supplies to provide support for up to 5,000 people in the form of water, sanitation and shelter.” The announcement was welcomed by Oxfam
Country Director Colin Collet van Rooyen, who is in Port Vila. “Obviously we’re going to need more, but we welcome it,” he told AAP.
“We have limited supplies of food in the country.”
Oxfam, World Vision and CARE International are already on the ground in Vanuatu with teams who were there before the cyclone hit.
The official death toll stands at least six in Vanuatu’s capital but is expected to rise, with uncon-
CANBERRA: The Australian Greens say aid for Vanuatu is essential but not enough while Australia is still contributing to global warming.
Greens Leader
Christine Milne has welcomed the government’s speedy response in committing $5 million in aid and medical personnel to Vanuatu after the devastation inflicted by Cyclone Pam. “Aid is essential but not enough,” Senator Milne said in
a statement. She said Australia will be seen as a hypocrite as long as it continues to export coal and fails to reduce pollution.
“We are directly contributing to the more severe extreme weather that threatens to wipe our island neighbours off the map,” she said.
“These disasters will continue to get worse. More and more people will die if we fail to reduce the pollution that is causing global warming.”
VANUATU’S president is appealing for international help after Tropical Cyclone Pam ripped through the Pacific archipelago, leaving thousands of people displaced.
At least six people have been confirmed dead and it is feared there could be more than 40 fatalities after the category five cyclone hit the Vanuatu archipelago on Friday night.
Winds around 250 kilometres per hour destroyed homes and uprooted trees, with witnesses describing sea surges of up to eight metres and flooding throughout the capital of Port Vila.
Authorities are struggling to gauge the extent of the damage across the country because communications are down and fallen power lines and trees have blocked road access.
In Port Vila the scale of the devastation is clear with hundreds of homes flooded, having had their roofs torn off or been destroyed altogether. Aid agencies estimate at least 10,000 people have been left homeless and the United Nations says there are unconfirmed reports of 44 deaths.
Vanuatu’s president Baldwin Lonsdale has called for emergency aid from abroad.– ABC
firmed reports of 44 people killed in just one province.
Mr Collet van Rooyen said more people would die in coming days from injuries, because access to villages and outer islands was limited. “Some people’s death could be prevented if we can access them now,” he said.
“People with search and rescue expertise are incredible needed at this point.”
The Oxfam spokesman said he still didn’t know whether the main hospital’s power had been restored since the
generator went down.
The long-term financial impact on Vanuatu could be severe, with infrastructure and tourism likely to be heavily impacted, he said.
“The people of Vanuatu are going to have to rebuild, but rebuild in a ways that are more sustainable, more category 5 cyclone resistant,” Mr Collet van Rooyen told AAP.
Aid agencies warn it could be days before the full extent of the damage is known - and it will take
months to rebuild the tiny island nation.
World Vision said more than 2,000 people had already sought refuge in emergency shelters in the capital Port Vila, but it could take weeks to reach the more remote islands affected. At this point, no one has heard anything from the outlying islands.
World Vision worker Chloe Morrison says the winds from Cyclone Pam, in excess of 250km/h, turned buildings into debris.
SYDNEY: Homes blown to pieces, uprooted trees and blocked roads.
That’s what many in Vanuatu are facing after Cyclone Pam, which ripped through the island nation on Friday, leaving at least eight people dead, a trail of destruction and fears that the death toll will climb.
World Vision said more than 2,000 people had already sought refuge in emergency shelters in the capital Port Vila, but it could take weeks to reach the more remote islands affected.
At this point, no one has heard anything from the outlying islands. World Vision worker Chloe Morrison says the winds from Cyclone Pam, in excess of 250km/h, turned buildings into debris.
“Whole villages have been blown away. The homes have been absolutely completely flattened, they’re just piles of tim-
ber, and sometimes not even that. They just are totally decimated,” she said in a statement.
But as the people of Vanuatu try and grapple with the scale of the catastrophe, they have already begun slowly piecing their lives back together.
Oxfam Country Director in Port Vila, Colin Collet van Rooyen, described the situation in the capital: “(There’s) vegetation ripped out, vegetation on houses, across roads, across power lines.”
“People have started actually gathering bits of materials from their houses, where houses have been destroyed, and starting to put things together,” he told AAP.
“(They are) starting to clear the roads themselves, not waiting for authorities or foreign agencies to do it...
“That’s an incredibly powerful thing to see.”
If the airport is able to reopen,
foreign aid teams from Red Cross Australia and Save the Children are expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon.
Oxfam, World Vision and CARE International are already on the ground in Vanuatu with teams who were there before the cyclone hit.
Mr Collet van Rooyen says the long-term financial impact on Vanuatu could be severe, with infrastructure and tourism likely to be heavily impacted.
“The people of Vanuatu are going to have to rebuild, but rebuild in a ways that are more sustainable, more category 5 cyclone resistant,” he said, saying there’s always the chance they might get hit by another cyclone that size.
“It does appear the stronger levels cyclones might be on the increase globally, so I think the implications of rebuilding might be more expensive as well.”
A TEAM of six people from Darwin have been sent to Vanuatu to provide an immediate emergency response to victims of Cyclone Pam. Eight people are confirmed
to have died across the country’s 65 inhabited islands after Cyclone Pam tore through the South Pacific archipelago packing winds of up to 270 kilometres per hour.
Five doctors and nurses, and one logistical specialist have been deployed from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, which is based in Darwin.
NORTHERN Territory community leaders have accused the Federal and Northern Territory governments of “walking away” from a commitment to Indigenous housing.
Megan Raymond lives in Binjari, a community 15 kilometres southwest of Katherine with a population of 300.
Earlier this year Ms Raymond and her three children shifted from the “bottom camp” to the “top camp” at Binjari, after years of living in what she described as an “old tin shack”.
“I told them it’s not fair,” Ms Raymond said.
“My kids are getting sick, I’m getting asthma and hardly breathing in the house.”
But Ms Raymond said problems had continued at the top camp, with more than a dozen people living in a three-bedroom home.
“To go to the toilet, they’re going to have to walk over their beds, and sometimes walking over your bed your dusting it and getting dirt in it as well,” she said.
“The kids will get flu and sometimes get sores on their body.
“But it’s not our fault because we
live in a squashed up house and we don’t have much room.
“Some family don’t know where to live, they’d rather sleep on the verandah, some just sleep anywhere.”
Another Binjari resident, Isobel Lalara, said the toilets were often broken at the community’s bottom camp, including one female toilet that has been blocked since last year. Residents have been told the bottom camp is no longer suitable for public housing because it is in a flood zone.
Ms Lalara is one of several residents at Binjari’s bottom camp who do not want to leave the area, and would not know where to find alternative housing if they had to.
“My grandkids were born here,” she said. “I like living here, I love these people here.”
Kalano Community Association, an Aboriginal housing organisation in Katherine, said the Northern Territory Government was not sticking to its commitment to public housing.
“We have no conversation with the Territory Government on this,” chief executive Rick Fletcher said.
BRISBANE: A 1967 Bel Air Chevrolet and drugs worth a quarter of a million dollars have been seized after a six-month operation targeting bikie gangs.
Four patched members of the Odin’s Warriors are among 22 people arrested following weekend raids across the Gold Coast and Agnes Waters, south of Gladstone.
Police have seized over three ounces of amphetamine, 100 cannabis plants and seven litres of valuable cannabis oil from a rural property in Agnes Waters.
The car, which is worth about $50,000, was seized under proceeds of crime legislation.
The arrested men are long-term members of the club and some had moved up the ranks over three decades, Detective Inspector Terry Lawrence said.
“We’re not talking about young men here,” he said. “We’re talking about people who are aged from 50 to 60. They’ve been around for a long time.”
Police found drugs stashed inside freezers and tyres during the raids.
“During the course of the operation we’ve identified extensive supply networks that they’ve developed throughout the central region,” Det Insp Lawrence said.
“They’ve been, we will allege, doing this for a long time. (They were) very comfortable.”
Police have charged three of the men with gathering in a public place under Queensland’s tough anti-gang legislation after they allegedly met at the local surf club in January.
The network’s proximity to mining towns was of concern Det Insp Lawrence said.
“They’re in Agnes Waters for a reason, and I would suggest that’s to keep out of the public eye as much as possible and do what they need to do.”
The arrests were likely to have dismantled the Agnes Waters gang, taskforce Maxima’s commander Detective Superintendent Michael Niland said.
SYDNEY: The NSW Greens will launch their campaign for the NSW state election with a promise to fully fund a $20 billion infrastructure project without privatising the state’s electricity network.
Greens MP John Kaye said a jobs package will be unveiled, as well as new anti-corruption initiatives.
Dr Kaye on Saturday launched the party’s plan to provide legal certainty for families and medical professionals around end-of-life treatment.
“The Greens will be moving legislation after the election to catch
up with the other states and territories and ensure that advanced care directives are protected by the law,” Dr Kaye said.
“No treating clinician should have to interpret the common law to know if they are protected from prosecution when they follow the wishes of a patient and withhold treatment.”
The Greens’ plan for the creation of jobs across the state - particularly in regional and rural NSW - will be a key address at Sunday’s campaign launch at the University of Technology, Sydney.
SECURITY has been tightened after past attacks on Pakistan’s churches. Picture: BBC
TWO Australian drug smugglers on death row in Indonesia could have their executions delayed for months, while other inmates pursue lengthy court appeals.
Indonesian attorney-general Muhammad Prasetyo has told Indonesia’s respected journalism group Tempo the next round of executions will be carried out once all of the condemned inmates have finished their appeals.
That is a process that could take months to resolve. Earlier this week Mr Prasetyo left open the option of dividing up the group of 11 as individual appeals are completed.
However, his latest comments mean that the Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, could be spared from the firing squad for months, while other foreigners on death row beside them pursue judicial reviews of their cases. Chan and Sukumaran’s lawyers will return to a Jakarta court on Thursday to challenge their death sentences.
The two members of the Bali Nine drug smuggling group are attempting to challenge president Joko Widodo’s decision to deny clemency to any drug smugglers, without exception.
A hearing of the pair’s latest appeal in the State Administrative Court was adjourned this week because the president did not have sufficient legal representation. The Australian Government and officials have made repeated calls for Mr Widodo to grant clemency to the Australians.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has written to her Indonesian counterpart offering to pay the cost of life imprisonment in Indonesia, should their lives be spared.
“I have put forward a number of proposals ... I put forward an idea that we should get our officials to discuss ways to resolve what is becoming a very difficult issue for both our nations,” she said. But Ms Bishop said she was yet to receive a response to the request.
Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, the Grand Mufti of Australia, this week visited Jakarta and met with Indonesia’s religious affairs minister to make a personal plea for clemency for Chan and Sukumaran. The men were transferred from Bali to a prison on Nusakambangan where the executions are scheduled to take place earlier this month. -ABC
TWO bomb blasts have killed at least 10 people near two churches in a Christian neighbourhood of the Pakistani city of Lahore, local officials say.
At least 50 people were reportedly hurt in the explosions at the Catholic church and Christ Church in the city’s Youhanabad area.
Violent protests erupted after the blasts, with large crowds already in the area to attend Sunday mass.
Pakistan’s Christian community has often been targeted by militants.
An offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban, calling itself Jamatul
Ahrar, has said it carried out the attack.
Witnesses say suicide bombers were responsible for the explosions but police have not confirmed this.
The bombers are said to have detonated their explosives at the gates of the churches.
Local media say the death toll has reached 14.
A large crowd gathered at the scene of the blasts, protesting about the lack of security.
The crowd also attacked two men it accused of involvement in the explosions, killing at least one of them.
Protesters carrying sticks blocked Lahore’s Ferozepur Road. Local television pictures showed a bus station being attacked.
Amir Masih, a witness quoted by Reuters news agency, said he had heard an explosion near one of the churches.
“I rushed towards the spot and saw the security guard scuffle with a man who was trying to enter the church,” he said.
The man blew himself up after failing to enter the church, Mr Masih told Reuters. -BBC
IT has taken three decades, but a campaign to free wild animals including a female gorilla from the rooftop of an old Bangkok mall is gaining momentum in Thailand.
The 26-year-old female gorilla, named Bua Noi, has called a concrete enclosure on the mall’s seventh floor home for more than 20 years.
It is the prized possession of the zoo’s owner, Kanit Sermsirimongkol, who said he opened the zoo 30 years ago because he loves animals.
“There is no regulation how big the cage should be for a monkey, a snake or a bird. There is no rules yet,” Mr Sermsirimongkol said.
But Thai authorities now acknowledge that the high-rise zoo breaches a raft of guidelines and have ordered the gorilla and other large animals to be removed.
They said the animal must be removed by
CAMPAIGN: IT has taken three decades, but a campaign to free wild animals including a female gorilla from the rooftop of an old Bangkok mall is gaining momentum in Thailand.
July, but admit it could be a difficult ruling to enforce.
Hundreds of animals, from orangutans to a black panther, a cheetah, a baboon and bears, are all squeezed into the one shopping mall floor.
Mr Sermsirimongkol said the animals were all well cared for.
But Bua Noi’s onetime silverback mate, which had shared the same concrete enclosure, died a decade ago, leaving the social animal alone on a mall rooftop and animal welfare groups appalled.
Sinjira Apaithan has
led a campaign to have the animal moved.
“I just felt so absolutely saddened by what I saw. We should have stopped this issue ages ago,” he said.
“It’s not the place for animals. So the main thing is education for Thai people, for Thai society, for a new generation to learn. This is the lesson that we have to learn it.”
But Adisorn Noochdumrong, the inspector-general of Thailand’s national parks and wildlife department, said moving the animal would pose challenges.
“Moving the big animals, especially the gorilla, is quite sensitive,” he said.
“It is easy for her to get infection if she is moved to the ground and she could die. So it needs more study.”
The animals’ vet says he hopes another gorilla can be found and brought to Bangkok, so Bua Noi no longer has to live alone. – ABC
CIVILIANS have fled fighting for other parts of Myanmar, and for China’s Yunnan province. Picture: BBC
AT least 21 people have died and more than 20 others are missing after a passenger ferry sank off western Myanmar, officials say.
Rescuers saved 167 people after the boat was hit by huge waves off the coast of Rakhine state, they said.
Officials said 209 people were on board, though residents were
quoted as saying that there could have been many unregistered passengers.
Ferry sinkings are common in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The boat was travelling to Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state, when it capsized near Myebon, officials said. -BBC news
KOLKATA: Police in eastern India say they are investigating the gangrape of a 75-year-old nun by burglars who broke into the convent school where she lived.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the alleged attack on Friday night, when 12 men broke into the convent in West Bengal state.
“A preliminary investigation has revealed that a nun at the school was gagged and gang-raped,” police inspector general Anuj Sharma told AFP on Saturday.
“Two people have so far been arrested,” he said, adding that the nun was recovering in hospital.
Local residents took to the streets in anger, shouting slogans demanding action and blocking off the main highway.
West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee tweeted her condemnation of what she called a
“horrific attack”, promising “swift, strongest action”.
The incident came at a time of heightened sensitivity over women’s safety in India, which last week banned a documentary about the 2012 gang-rape of a student in Delhi that sparked mass protests.
Authorities said screening the documentary could have caused public disorder, but critics accused the government of being more concerned with the country’s reputation than the safety of its women.
The December 2012 gang-rape of a young physiotherapy student highlighted the frightening level of violence against women in the world’s second most populous country and triggered mass protests.
It led to a major reform of India’s rape laws, speeding up trials and increasing penalties, although many campaigners say little has changed for women on the ground.
WASHINGTON: Afghanistan used about $US1 million provided by the CIA to a secret government fund to pay al Qaeda in 2010 for a diplomat’s release, The New York Times says.
The terror group’s leader at the time, Osama bin Laden, worried that the Americans knew about the payment and were either tracing the cash or had laced it with poison or radiation, and suggested it be converted to another currency, according to the Times.
The newspaper said letters by bin Laden and his group’s general manager Atiyah Abd al-Rahman were found among computers and documents seized by US Navy SEALs during a 2011 raid in which the al Qaeda leader was killed in Pakistan.
They had been classified until presented as evidence by federal prosecutors at the trial in New York of Abid Naseer, an al Qaeda operative convicted this month of supporting terrorism and plotting to bomb a British shopping centre.
Abdul Khaliq Farahi was serving
as Afghanistan’s consul general in Peshawar, Pakistan, when he was kidnapped in September 2008, just weeks before he was due to start in a new post as Kabul’s ambassador in the country.
He was released more than two years later after Afghanistan paid al Qaeda $US5 million ($A6.50 million), a fifth of which came from a secret fund the CIA supplied with monthly cash payments to the presidential palace, according to the Times, which also cited Afghan and Western officials.
In addition to the CIA funds, Pakistan paid for nearly half the ransom, and the rest came from Iran and Gulf states. “It seems a bit strange somewhat because in a country like Afghanistan, usually they would not pay this kind of money to free one of their men,” bin Laden wrote about the funds.
In the end, the US appeared to have inadvertently funded the very militant group it was fighting only due to poor oversight and controls.
LAGOS: Three Chinese workers kidnapped by gunmen in central Nigeria’s Kogi state have been released unhurt.
“I can confirm to you that the abducted Chinese workers have been released,” state police spokesman Sola Collins Adebayo told AFP.
“They were freed today through a joint operation by the police and other security agents.”
He said the hostages, seized on Friday at a quarry outside state capital Lokoja, were unharmed but declined to say if a ransom had been paid.
A senior police officer told AFP earlier on Saturday that gunmen had stormed the quarry and a shootout left one officer on duty dead and
another wounded. The assailants then escaped with the hostages on foot.
Kogi state has seen a wave of abductions targeting foreigners this year. Two weeks ago, two Chinese nationals were kidnapped in the state, while an American missionary was taken from her school last month.
The missionary, who works in the village of Emiworo where her Free Methodist Church runs a community organisation, was released last week.
State police said they were unaware of any ransom paid for her release.
Foreign hostages are frequently kidnapped by local gangs, who usually release them following a ransom payment.
NATIONAL mourning has been declared in Serbia after a rescue helicopter crashed while carrying a newborn baby for medical treatment, with the loss of all seven people on board.
The helicopter came down in heavy fog while trying to land in the capital Belgrade on Friday night.
Four crew members and two medical workers were also on the aircraft.
As mourning was declared, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic said the army had lost its best helicopter pilots.
The helicopter had been called out after an ambulance carrying the baby was blocked by a mudslide about 200km (120 miles) south of Belgrade.
The five-day-old baby was being rushed for treatment after developing life-threatening respiratory problems.
Officials say the control tower at Belgrade airport lost contact with the helicopter while it awaited clearance to land just after 22:30 local time (21:30 GMT) on Friday.
It had failed in two attempts to land due to poor visibility, helicopter unit commander Predrag Bandic told re-
PILOTS: Major Omer Mehic and Captain Milovan Djukelic and the flight engineers – Ensign Nebojsa Drajic and Ensign Ivan Miladinovic.
LOST: The control tower at Belgrade airport lost contact with the helicopter while it waited for clearance to land.
porters. Serbian media named the pilots as Major Omer Mehic and Captain Milovan Djukelic and the flight engineers as Ensign Nebojsa Drajic and Ensign Ivan Miladinovic.
Their photos were published on the website of the Serbian armed forces.
Killed along with them were a doctor, Dzevad Ljajic, and an anaesthesiologist, Miroslav Veselinovic.
The name of the baby was not immediately available.
The accident stunned colleagues of the pilots at the defence ministry, the BBC’s Guy Delauney reports from Belgrade.
EUROPEAN Union foreign policy
chief Federica Mogherini has announced she will visit Cuba later this month.
Ms Mogherini said Cuba was facing a very interesting period and the EU wanted to build on the momentum to “take the relationship forward”.
She is the highest-ranking EU official to visit Cuba in several years.
The communist-run island is in advanced negotiations with the US to restore relations severed more than five decades ago.
Ms Mogherini’s visit, on 23 and 24 March, is being seen as another sign that the communist-run island is strengthening ties with the West.
“The EU has been closely following the developments in Cuba and its relations with key international players, which create new dynamics in the region and in Cuba itself, and provide new opportunities for all,” Ms Mogherini said.
The EU lifted sanctions on Cuba over its human rights record in 2008.
Last year it launched negotiations
to improve relations with Havana on human rights, trade and economic relations.
Ms Mogherini says the visit comes “at a crucial time” for those negotiations.
Over her two-day visit she will meet Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and non-governmental organisations.
On Sunday, the Cuban authorities will meet the top US diplomat for Latin American affairs, Roberta Jackson. She will travel to Havana for a third round of talks since presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced, on 17 December, they had agreed to begin mending relations.
The meeting is expected to focus on reopening embassies in Washington and Havana and Cuba’s demand to be removed from the US list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
The US wants the embassies to be functional before regional leaders meet at the Summit of the Americas on 10-11 April in Panama.
–BBC
ABOUT 2000 people have attended the funeral march for a German woman who died fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.
Waving flags and banners, they escorted the body of Ivana Hoffmann, 19, through the city of Duisburg to the cemetery where she was buried. Ms Hoffman was killed earlier this month in the battle for Tal Tamr, in northwestern Syria. She had been fighting alongside the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG).
Ms Hoffman was the first Western female fighter known to have been killed fighting IS.
She was a member of Turkey’s Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) and joined the YPG fighters six months ago. A MLKP statement, which referred to her by her war name, Avasin Tekosin Gunes, declared her to be “immortal”.
UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said last week that at least 40 Kurdish fighters and IS militants had been killed in the battle for Tal Tamr.
About 100 Western volunteers are believed to be fighting IS alongside Kurdish forces in northern Syria and neighbouring Iraq. – BBC
SIERRA Leone’s Vice-President Samuel Sam-Sumana has gone into hiding while he seeks political asylum at the US embassy in the capital, Freetown.
Mr Sam-Sumana told the BBC he and his wife fled their home after “a tip-off” that soldiers were surrounding it. The move comes a week after his expulsion from the ruling party.
Two weeks ago, Mr SamSumana said he was putting himself in quarantine for 21 days after one of his bodyguards died of the Ebola virus. Police and army sourc-
TEN American aid workers who may have been exposed to Ebola are being brought back to the US from Sierra Leone.
On Friday it was announced that a US aid worker back from Sierra Leone had tested positive and was being treated in hospital near Washington DC.
The evacuees may have been in contact with the Ebola patient and are being flown back on noncommercial transport.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said none were currently showing Ebola symptoms.
They will stay in voluntary isolation for a 21-day incubation period. If any start to show symptoms they will be taken to one of three hospitals which are equipped to deal with Ebola cases.
On Friday, the CDC sent a team to Sierra Leone to investigate how the healthcare worker became exposed and determine who might have been in contact with the infected person.
The patient is being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.
It is the 11th person with the deadly virus to be treated in the US.
More than 10,000 people have died in the current Ebola outbreak.
On Saturday, a 6th British healthcare worker was evacuated from Sierra Leone after coming into contact with a British Ebola case.
–BBC
A TOUR bus has plunged off a mountain road into a ravine in southern Brazil, killing at least 42 people.
Police say the bus, carrying about 50 people, fell 400m (1,300ft) into a wooded area near the city of Joinville in Santa Catarina state.
At least six survivors were freed from the wreckage and taken to hospital.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. However, police said it appeared the brakes on the bus had failed as it took a bend.
The accident happened as night fell and difficult access to the site was hampering the rescue effort, a local government spokesman told AFP news agency. The mountainous area is a popular tourist attraction.
A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene but could not land due to the terrain, local media report.
The death toll was initially put at 32 but increased after several bodies were found and three children who had been rescued died in hospital, a government spokesman said.
South Brazil is one of five regions of Brazil. It includes the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul and covers 576,409.6 square km, being the smallest portion of the country, occupying only about 6.76 percent of the territory of Brazil.
Its whole area is smaller than that of the state of Minas Gerais, in Southeast Brazil, for example.
It is a great tourist, economic and cultural pole. It borders Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay as well as Centre-West Region, Southeast Region, and the Atlantic Ocean. – BBC
es confirmed to the BBC’s Umaru Fofana in Freetown that troops were sent to the vice-president’s residence on Saturday morning.
They said the troops were dispatched to withdraw Mr Sam-Sumana’s security detail, but would not say whose orders they were acting on.
However, Information Minister Alpha Kanu told the BBC that the soldiers merely went to Mr Sam-Sumana’s house to “strengthen the quarantine”.
“I don’t feel safe this morning as vice-president,” Mr Sam-Sumana told the AP
news agency by phone. He said he had spoken to US Ambassador John Hoover and was waiting for a response. US embassy spokeswoman Hollyn Green said embassy officials, including Mr Hoover, had “seen the news” but could not provide any reaction.
“There is no comment at the moment and there is no action on our part,” Ms Green told AP Government spokesman Abdulai Bayraytay told the BBC that Mr Sam-Sumana had no reason to seek asylum, saying his safety was “guaranteed”. – BBC
THE Vatican says force may be necessary to stop attacks on Christians and other Middle East minorities by Islamic State (IS) if no political solution is found.
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s top diplomat at the UN in Geneva, said jihadists were committing “genocide” and must be stopped.
The Vatican traditionally opposes military intervention in the region.
However, Pope Francis decried the beheading in February of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by IS in Libya.
The militants have targeted minority religious groups in the parts of Syria and Iraq under their control. Thousands more people have been forced to flee their homes.
In an interview with US Catholic website Crux, Archbishop Tomasi said: “What’s needed is a co-ordinated and well-thought-out coalition to do everything possible to achieve a political settlement without violence. “But if that’s not possible, then the use of force will be necessary.”
He added: “We have to stop this kind of genocide. Otherwise we’ll be crying out in the future about why we didn’t so something, why we allowed such a
WARN: human rights organisations warned that IS was trying to eradicate Iraqi minority groups from large areas of the country.
FORCE: If that’s not possible, then the use of force will be necessary.
terrible tragedy to happen.”
Christians were the main target of IS attacks, the archbishop said, but all minorities were human beings whose rights had to be protected.
“Christians, Yazidis, Shias, Sunnis, Alawites, all are human beings whose rights deserve to be protected,” he said.
Any coalition, he said, must include Muslim states from the Middle East and be guided by the UN.
Crux said the archbishop’s endorsement of military action was “unusually blunt”.
In February, human rights organisations warned that IS was trying to eradicate Iraqi minority groups from large areas of the country.
TWO men have been arrested for mugging a well-known South African TV journalist on camera.
Vuyo Mvoko, a contributing editor with national network SABC, was robbed as he was about to go on air on Tuesday.
“We’ve just positively identified our phones among several other stolen goods,” Mr Mvoko tweeted.
Two more suspects were arrested for buying stolen goods, including laptops belonging to SABC TV
All four are expected to appear in court on Monday.
According to Mr Mvoko, one suspect is still on the run.
Police had offered a 100,000 rand (K21,000) reward for information leading to arrests.
Footage of the incident, which took place in Johannesburg, has been widely viewed online.
The robbers’ faces are visible and they appear unconcerned by the presence of the camera.
Mr Mvoko said one of them threatened him with a gun.
The journalist had been waiting outside Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital
to report on the arrival of Zambia’s president for medical tests.
Diversity is a key feature of South Africa, where 11 languages are recognised as official, where community leaders include rabbis, traditional chieftains and returned exiles, and where housing ranges from mud huts to palatial gated communities.
Until 1994 South Africa was ruled by a white minority government and the Nationalist Party that came to power in 1948 enforced a separation of races with its policy called apartheid.
The government introduced grand social engineering schemes such as the forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people.
It also killed, imprisoned and exiled its opponents and fomented instability in hostile neighbouring countries.
The apartheid government eventually negotiated itself out of power after decades of international isolation and armed opposition from the African National Congress (ANC) and other groups, and the new democratically-elected leadership encouraged reconciliation.
–BBC
ANIMALS given one experimental drug showed “dramatic” weight loss, according to scientists.
In another early study, in men, the love hormone oxytocin appeared to help reduce appetite.
Experts said a weight loss pill would be like finding the Holy Grail, but they also raised concerns about safety.
Much more work is needed to check these approaches will be safe to use in humans, they told the conference in
San Diego. First, a team at Houston Methodist Research Institute used a drug that manipulates the amount of energy burned by mimicking hormones produced by the thyroid.
“It raised metabolic rate and lead to dramatic weight loss,” said lead researcher Dr Kevin Phillips.
The chemical, GC1, worked by converting white fat, which is just an energy store, into brown fat. –BBC
THE Egyptian government has announced plans to build a new capital to the east of the present one, Cairo.
Housing Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the project would cost $45bn (£30bn) and take five to seven years to complete.
He said the aim was to ease congestion and overpopulation in Cairo over the next 40 years.
The announcement was made at an investment conference that aims to revive the Egyptian economy.
The gathering, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, has attracted pledges worth $12bn (£8bn) in aid and investment from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Madbouly said the population of greater Cairo, estimated at about 18 million, was expected to double within 40 years.
The Egyptian parliament and its government departments and ministries, as well as foreign embassies, would move to the new metropolis, he said.
“We are talking about a world capital,” he added.
THE US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh has cancelled all consular services for Sunday and Monday due to “heightened security concerns”.
In a statement, the embassy said consular services in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran would not be available.
It urged US citizens to take extra precautions when travelling in Saudi Arabia and to keep a low profile.
On Friday, the embassy warned that Western oil workers could be the target of militant attacks.
It said it had information that “individuals associated with a terrorist organisation” could be targeting people working in the oil-rich Eastern Province.
The message did not identify the
militants. Saturday’s statement did not give details of any specific threat but said: “All US citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings and take extra precautions when travelling throughout the country.
“The Department of State urges US citizens to carefully consider the risks of travelling to Saudi Arabia and limit non-essential travel within the country.”
The last security incident in Saudi Arabia involving US citizens happened last October when a disgruntled Saudi-American, dismissed from his job at a US defence contractor in Riyadh, shot two US co-workers, killing one and wounding the other.
–BBCGAMERS are being targeted by a computer virus that stops them playing their favourite titles unless they pay a ransom.
On infected machines, the malicious program seeks out saved games and other files and encrypts them.
A key to unlock encrypted files is only supplied if victims pay at least $500 (£340) in Bitcoins.
The malware targets 40 separate games including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Minecraft and World of Tanks.
The malicious program looks similar to the much more widely distributed Cryptolocker ransomware that has caught out thousands of people over the last couple of years.
But analysis of the malware, called Teslacrypt, reveals that it shares no code with Cryptolocker and appears to be have been created by a different cybercrime group. Researcher Vadim Kotov from security firm Bromium
said the file was catching people out via a website its creators had managed to compromise. The site involved is a Wordpress blog that is inadvertently hosting a file that abuses a loophole in Flash to infect visitors.
One a machine is infected, wrote Mr Kotov, the malware looks for 185 different file extensions. In particular, it seeks out files associated with many popular video games and online services such as Steam that give people access to them.
“Interestingly, although these are all popular games, none of them matches any particular ‘Top Sellers’ or ‘Most Played’ chart, “ said Mr Kotov. “They could just be games the developer loves to play.”
Files holding gamers’ profiles, maps, saves and modified versions of games are all sought by Teslacrypt, he said, adding that anyone who tries to outwit the malware may end up being disappointed
Developers say the new city - the name of which has not been revealed - would include almost 2,000 schools and colleges and more than 600 health care facilities. They say the project will create more than a million jobs.
It is planned to be built over 700 sq km (270 sq miles) and house about five million residents.
Planners say the proposed city’s site “is situated along the corridor between Cairo and the Red Sea, providing linkages to significant shipping routes.
It will be built by Capital City Partners, a private real estate investment fund led by Emirati Mohamed Alabbar. Dubai businessman Mr Alabbar built the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
“It is a natural extension for the city of Cairo,” Mr Alabbar told the BBC, saying that the new development would sit on the edge of the existing city.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to design something from scratch, and to design it keeping in mind the needs of the Egyp-
tian people and the Egyptian government.”
He said the builders would be deploying the most advanced design techniques on the project, and that the city would breed “confidence” and “pride” in Egyptians.
The new capital is as yet unnamed, but it sounds like an Egyptian version of Shangri La. It’s being billed as a smart sustainable city, on a grand scale.
If and when it’s completed - and that could take yearsit will be about the size of Singapore, with an airport larger than Heathrow.
The idea is to lure Egyptians away from the chaotic sprawl of Cairo - where congestion and pollution seem as constant as the waters of the Nile.
The authorities say it will spark a renaissance in the economy. Perhaps, but many here recall other flagship projects - which stalled in the past. Egyptian bureaucracy can be as enduring as the pyramids.
President Abdul Fattah alSisi can’t afford this to fail. Without tangible economic progress there could be more unrest ahead.
March 20 - April 19
For any Aries, obstacles are best overcome swiftly. But those you’re now facing are triggered by the clash between Uranus, which is in Aries, and Pluto, which signifies both manipulation and secrecy. Consequently, any issues will be far more complex than they seem. The first step? Ask a lot of questions.
April 20 - May 19
On 20 March your ruler Venus moved into the most strategic portion of your chart. This triggered a period during which a range of tricky circumstance have prevented you taking action, and in a number of situations. Now, finally, Venus enters Taurus, and with it, many of those barriers vanish, some overnight.
May 21 - June 20
You rather enjoy an exchange of ideas in a lively debate. Dealing with those who take such differences seriously, and who demand facts, can be seriously tedious. Still, that’s exactly what you’re facing. Ironically, the facts that surface won’t just be informative, they could resolve persistent and worrying issues.
June 21 - July 21
What seem minor disagreements with others may be the tip of the iceberg. This means it’s unlikely you’ll reach a swift accord but, rather, as you resolve one issue another will appear. Tedious as that is at the time, if you can muster the patience, you’ll be astonished how much you clear up.
July 22 - August 22
Few things annoy you more than those who’re picky about details. Yet somebody like that could save the day. Certain arrangements have been encountering obstacles and you can’t figure out why. That individual has a knack for zeroing in on such things, and will spot the problem without even being asked.
August 23 - September 22
Unless you follow the stars closely, you may not be aware your ruler Mercury’s been in the same rather dutiful portion of your chart since early January. While you’ve accomplished a lot, you’re ready for a break. It’s coming and, better yet, it looks like others will be organising it for you.
September 23 - October 22
Outlining what you think has gone wrong with certain arrangements isn’t just risky, it’s a minefield of potential hurt feelings. Yet if you don’t address these issues now, things will only get more complicated. Acknowledge your words are unlikely to be welcomed and others’ reaction won’t bother you that much.
October 23 - November 22
The worrying actions of others have raised serious issues. While you’re mulling these over, you’re short of facts. Ordinarily you’d try to figure out what their intentions were. Instead, ask. While this may rouse vulnerable feelings, once you’re actually talking things over, you’ll realise they’re just as anxious as you are.
November 23 - December 22
Although the eclipsed New Moon isn’t until the end of the week, because it accents the structure of your life, you could already be witnessing some of shakeups it will trigger. While many are welcome, others may be more worrying. Still, your instincts are correct in telling you they’re long overdue.
December 21 - January
Most setbacks are just that, minor problems. However, those that arise now could be prompting you to delve into the complex issues triggered by the clash between Uranus and Pluto, which is positioned in Capricorn. While these aren’t necessarily your responsibility, you’re urged to be aware of everything that’s going on.
January 20 - February
Recent issues forced you to take a stand on certain issues you’ve been aware of, but havenÕt really had to deal with. While this won’t have been easy at the time, it’s hasn’t just given you good reason to think about your views in depth, it will lead to crucial discussions.
February
While there’s no getting around the complex situations coming your way, you’re not alone. The planetary activity that’s triggering these is influencing others just as much as you, and will often involve the same issues. Brainstorm solutions together. You’ll not only come up with brilliant ideas, you’ll provide mutual support.
Saturday March 14 University of PNG, Waigani
2.6KM: 1. Richard Wanhara 12.24, 2 Walter Nuak 20.15.
5.8 KM: 1 Robert Junes 22.58, 2 Buda Aworari 24,33, 3 John Greenland 29.11, 4 Peter Motanya 31.40, 9 Andrew Wilkins 41.05, 10 Julia Mayersohn 47.23, 14 Richard Charnel 49.08.
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 2
Saturday 14 March
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 48 d CAPRAS 12
NORTHERN PRIDE v SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS at Barlow Park postponed to May 3.
MACKAY CUTTERS 34 d TWEED HEADS
SEAGULLS 18 at Stadium Mackay.
Sunday 15 March
IPSWICH JETS 36 d TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 24 at North Ipswich Reserve.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 18 d EASTS TIGERS 14 at BMD Kougari
Super Rugby Round 5
Friday March 13
NRL
West Indies 176/4 d UAE 175 by 6 wickets
Australia 133/3 d Scotland 130 by 7 wickets
India 288/4 d Zimbawe 287 by 6 wickets
England 101/1 d Afghanistan 111/7 by 9 wick-
ets (D/L method)
New Zealand 290/7 d Bangladesh 288/7 by 3
wickets
South Africa 3411/6 d UAE 195 by 146 runs
Points Table
INJURIES and a drought of possession took its toll on Parramatta as they succumbed 32-12 to Canterbury at ANZ Stadium, but the Eels again demonstrated that there is life after Jarryd Hayne with a gusty performance against last year’s grand finalists. After last week thrashing a Manly team that lost star five-eighth Keiran Foran with a torn hamstring and rookie Clinton Gutherson with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Parramatta were unable to overcome the loss of halfback Chris Sandow and winger Semi Radradra before halftime.
Sandow, who suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury he suffered in the NRL Nines when buckled backwards in a 26th minute tackle, returned in the 52nd minute, but secondrower Tepai Moeroa (shoulder) and centre Beau Champion (knee) joined Radradra in the dressing rooms before fulltime after last year’s leading tryscorer was
Stadium.
MELBOURNE CITY 4 bt NEWCASTLE JETS 0 at AAMI Park.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX 2 bt PERTH GLORY 1) at nib Stadium.
SYDNEY FC 5 bt BRISBANE ROAR 4 at Allianz Stadium.
ruled out with medial ligament damage in the 37th minute.
Late tries to fullback Brett Morris and winger Curtis Rona blew out the scoreline, but Parramatta - led by fiveeighth Corey Norman - won plenty of admirers among the 28,876 crowd with a brave display in a match they never really had a right to contest.
Even before the injuries, Parramatta were up against it after having to defend seven consecutive sets of tackles near their line before Bulldogs fiveeighth Moses Mbye put winger Curtis Rona over in the 12th minute with a long pass to create an overlap.
After conceding four penalties, a goal-line drop out and two scrum feeds in the opening 10 minutes, it seemed likely that Eels would run out of legs later in the game - particularly without their full bench.
Besides a 21st minute try to Brett Morris, the home team did not look like scoring again before halftime.
CANTERBURY Bulldogs winger Curtis Rona dives into the corner for their first try against Parramatta Eels. Picture: NEWS.com
SUPER RUGBY
WORRIED Reds flanker Liam Gill will likely face the judiciary over a bizarre version of wrestling’s powerbomb bodyslam to add further pain to last night’s 29-0 fall to ACT Brumbies. Having seven top-
line stars ripped from the Reds ranks was brutally exposed as the Reds were kept scoreless for the first time since a 36-0 pumping from the Brumbies in Canberra in 2006.
If he’d been The Undertaker from pro wrestling, Gill would have been cheered but instead
he was ejected for 10 minutes with a yellow card for his treatment of Brumbies halfback Nic White on the edge of a ruck. At that 46-minute mark, the gritty Reds were still in the contest at 10-0 down because effort, if not precision, dripped from everything they
tried at Suncorp Stadium after two shockers in their previous four games.
The Reds must stomach a combined 76-3 margin against the Brumbies this season and they have come away without a try to show for that 160 minutes of rugby.
PAPUA New Guinea’s champion soccer team Hekari
United FC is at the crossroads for their O-League Championship preparation.
With three weeks to go before the tournament begins team manager Vonnie Kapi-Natto is mulling over the possibility of Hekari having a fighting chance for their O-League campaign in Fiji.
“Well at the moment we are not really settling well. We went to Honiara for our friendly games… there’s a lot of things that we need to do, especially in our defensives, and our attacking we need to work really, really hard, but we are grateful that we have some good international players to assist our team, and hopefully they should be here by this weekend,” she said.
Kapi-Natto declined to name the international players until they arrive in Port Moresby hopefully by this weekend but said a lot of work was needed.
“There is a lot of work we need to do. Time is catching up on us, and honestly speaking, when we played our trial games in Honiara, the champions of Solomon’s Western United, our boys held them nil-all in the first half, but come second half, our boys couldn’t handle it anymore, and the reason is,
THE village boys from Central Province proved to be a handful for existing Digicel Cup franchises when taking out the inaugural National Rugby Nines plate and bowl finals in Lae yesterday.
Despite missing out on the Cup finals that saw the Lae Snax Tigers narrowly edging out Mendi Muruks 22-20, Central’s Rovana and Irupara GK shone through to take out the two minor awards from the three-day tournament.
KAPI-NATTO: Hekari club team manager.
O-LEAGUE: The FIFA soccer championship competition for the Oceania Region.
PREPARATION: Kapi-Natto requests for a change of venue to the IPA oval to help her teams preparation.
OVERSEAS PLAYERS: The manager declined to name the players.
VENUE: The change of venue is crucial for their preparations for the O-League games.
when we play our NSL here at Bomana, it’s too small compared to what we are going to play on,” she added. She said that her team had a lot of room for improvement and pleaded for those responsible to have the remaining NSL games to be played at the IPA oval, Waigani.
“I really want my team in our remaining games to play hopefully at the IPA, I know it’s hard, but we need to help our boys, the length and width of the field is conducive to our preparation. When they (Western United) hammered us in Honiara, that was the first bad result Hekari ever had from the Solomon’s Islands, for many years past, so I hope this won’t be repeated,” she said.
THE score line of 6-2 in favour of Hekari United over Oro FC shouldn’t belittle the fact that the “cowboy country” boys did all they could but were not enough to shut out the eight-time champions led by relentless Bulolo resident, Tommy Semmy.
Semmy was on fire and made sure of the chances he had to score a hat-trick, a first for the season.
In over 10 attempts he found the net twice in the first half and once in the second half to complete his hat-trick.
“Tommy is certainly on fire,” Hekari team manageress Vonnie Kapi-Natto said after the match. Round Two of the Telikom National Soccer League kicked off despite strong winds, but that didn’t stop Hekari from over-indulging their offence on a hapless Oro outfit.
Oro skipper Ian Yanum, Kohu Lien, Jacob Sabua, Henry Ronney and Patrick Aisa were competitive, it was just unfortunate that they met a side that was always going to inflict collateral damage sooner than later after several frustrating out-
ings. Semmy was sure to score after keeping Oro pinned in their quarter after four attempts with three shots going wide and on his fifth shot, after receiving an inside ball from Tuti Tanito, Semmy struck with venom to lead 1-0. Tonga Esra followed suit after a well placed corner kick from Tanito to take a handy 2-0 lead. For Oro they need to hold down on their shooting trajectory as most of their attempts to retaliate volleyed over the bar way past the mark.
While Hekari continued to maintain a mountain of possession and were again rewarded through Joachim Waroi whose near-perfect curler found an open Semmy for his second goal leaving Oro goalkeeper David Hauka dumbfounded.
Oro finally had chance to limit the onslaught after Ronney was fouled by Fijian Pita Bolatoga in the penalty area.
Lien scored the penalty to take the 3-1 scoreline to halftime. Oro’s Yanum had the best chance early from the break to close the gap, but that was foiled by goal-keeper Ishmael Pole. But the afternoon belonged to Hekari who scored through Tanito and Emmanuel Simon to close their ledger.
TEMPERS flared as expected as the Lae City Dwellers went down 2-1 to FC Port Moresby in the main game of round two of the Telikom National Soccer League at Bomana.
The traditional rivalry between the two big cities twisted and contorted the match in an equally contested affair on Saturday.
Both found the road to the back of the net thoroughly displeasing until POM FC’s Basil Jofari drew blood at the back end of the first half. Trailing 1-0 Lae worked hard to level the score line, but determined youngsters in FC POM’s Abel Redanut and Ayrton Yagas used their height advantage to outmuscle the Gunemba brothers Troy and Raymond. Lae looked certain to score on a number of occasions but the keen eye and
quick reflexes of young Charles Lepani appeared to be the crucial factor in the goal-mouth.
Lae’s Nigel Dabinyaba was well marked by a resilient Roland Bala who had to toughen up against a determined Lae side leaving Obert Bika and Cyril Muta bundling out any player found not road worthy. But it was the resilience of central midfielder Lamb Vincent that frustrated the Lae boys, which earned him the man-ofthe-match. With an easy going outlook and steady footwork carting the ball away from danger, Vincent never gave an opportunity to Lae to hatch a plan.
Harry ‘sapea’ Jenkins came out firing to shock the visitors after the break with a stunner to set the tone for a hard hitting second half with their 2-0 lead.
Rovana from the Aroma Coastline edged out the pride of Enga Province, the Enga Mioks 8-6 to win the Plate final.
Another Central team, Irupara GK came from behind in the second half to level the scores at 18-all against favourites Queensland Kokomos. Irupara was the first to score in the extra minutes with conversion unsuccessful to win 18-14 to claim the Bowls final.
Rovana’s mentor Christopher Thoa was a happy man at the end of the day with the results proving the opportunity given to be worthwhile.
Thoa said the players were always confident having the ability to prove to PNG Rugby League their capability to contest against the much fancied Digicel franchises.
In the Cup final, the Tigers were in control on their homeground to win comfortably.
CURRENT Digicel PNG Barramundis opening bowler Raymond Haoda Jnr will be among a strong NCD Avala that is favoured to win the national regional men’s championships in Lae from March 20-22. This is a big event, featuring the best cricketers outside of the main Barramundis group. Four teams, representing eight regions will be taking part in the three-day T20 event. Haoda Jnr, a right hand bowler, was part of the PNG Barramundis winning team that took part in the South Australia Cricket Association (SACA) Premier League in Australia last year.
“It has been a while since playing last year in the SACA competition however with the ongoing training I have been receiving I feel ready to be on the field come the championships,” Haoda said.
Other former and current Barramundis players that will be taking part are Greg Baeau (2011), Joel Tom (2015), Kapena Arua (2011), Maru Hobart and former U19 Garamuts Alfred Amini (2011 World Cup), Raho Sam (2011) and Dogodo Bau (Current EAP & PNG “A” Team).
DYNAMIC finisher Albert Levi Jr and Dean Manale have been recalled for national duties following the announcement of the Puma Energy Papua New Guinea Sevens team.
The University Piggies duo have been given a chance to redeem themselves in probably the biggest stage they will ever come across –the 40th edition of the Hong Kong Sevens slated for March 28-30.
Amongst the newcomers are New Zealand-based Rew identical twins Timothy and William.
The noteable omission is key playmaker Hensley Peter on technical grounds and Henry Liliket due to injury. During the announcement on Saturday, Minister for Sport Justin Tkatchenko challenged the national team to prove their worth to gain the recognition it deserves. “Rugby league is getting
the limelight and funding…prove us wrong and set a new benchmark for rugby union.
“With this being part of the buildup to the Pacific Games, the experience you will gain will serve as a stepping stone to strengthen the teams resolve come July,” he said.
“It’s in your hands, make it or break it,” he added.
With regards to the ongoing development of the team, Minister Tkatchenko said that Rome was not built in a day.
“It’s time to give something back especially the trust the selectors and coaching staff have in you by working together as a team more than anything else,” he said.
Sponsors representative Puma Energy advertising and promotions manager Theresa Bossin said the company is looking forward to positive results.
Coach Billy Rapilla urged the
new additions and those returning to earn their spots as there are players in the wider pool also knocking on the door.
The team leaves on Wednesday for Newcastle to engage in a FORU funded high performance training camp under the guidance of Taranaki Sevens coach.
Rapilla said as PNG and Tonga are FORU’s inclusion in the World Sevens Series tourney, they will be given extra help as the event will serve as a core team qualifier as well. The Puma Energy PNG Sevens team: Leo Tikot Jr, Hubert Tseraha ( C ), Henry Kalua, Timothy Rew, Dean Manale, Eugene Tokavai ( v/c), Max Vali, Butler Morris, William Rew, Wesley Vali, Albert Levi Jr, Arthur Clement.
Team management Billy Rapilla (coach), Douglas Guise (assistant coach), Mathew Natusch (team manager).
THE City Pharmacy Limited, Heritage Niugini PNG Palais women’s team will also be taking part in the Hong Kong Sevens slated for March 27-28.
Currently there are 20 women in training with final selection mooted for this Saturday at POMIS oval in Port Moresby.
This trial will serve to select the final 12 to travel.
By PETER SEVARA Jr
TOUCH FOOTBALL
TOUCH Football Papua New Guinea Inc. received a lift to their cause when a 100 per cent locally owned Logistics company, Lynden Logistics Niugini Limited came in with a K8000 sponsorship.
Company Director Margaret Warpin-Lahis was elated to assist the national team, which the Federation used to acquire training gear to attend the 2015 Touch World Cup in Coffs Harbor, Australia in April next month.
“Most of the time I am carried away by the lull of running a business and I thank Mr Joseph Yore who brought me back to the ground.
“I am out there assisting the locals with their logistical needs without realising that I can also help in other ways which Mr Yore has shown me and I am grateful for that,” Warpin-Lahis said. Yore is currently the president of the Public Industries Touch Association or commonly referred to its acronym as PITA. The funds were actually given last year and part of it was used during a touch tournament in New South Wales
last year while the remainder was used for this year. Present at the event also was Touch PNG President Sesevi Lae who expressed his sincere gratitude to Warpin-Lahis and her husband through their company.
“The National touch team will proudly wear their attire at the event to be held in Sydney, Australia from April 29 to May 3 in preparation for the 2015 Pacific Games,”Lae said.
Warpin-Lahis added she was available to assist wherever possible as helping locals in the country was one of the main reasons why she and her husband formed the company.
PNG is pooled with Japan, the Cup holder of Asia Pacific 7s plus the Netherlands and Tunisia. Those vying for spots are Joan Lagona, Tere Rema, Lynnette Kwarula, Cassandra Sampson, Margaret Naua, Alice Alois, Helen Abau, Dulcie Bomai, Augusta Livuana, Freda Waula, Carol Humeu, Menda Ipat, Yaroweena Morofa, Joan Kuman, Michelle John, Patricia Haricknen, Kymlie Rapilla, Naomi Alapi and Angela Pario.
THE SP Hunters came out victorious 30-26 in their first home game match against the visiting Redcliffe Dolphins in round two of the Queensland Intrust Super Cup competition at the Kalabond Stadium in Kokopo yesterday.
Despite the strong winds and heavy rain experienced in East New Britain for the last two weeks, the weather condition yesterday was perfect.
It was anybody’s game from the onset.
The visitors dominated the Hunters territory in the opening minutes of the match.
But the home boys drew
first blood in the eight minute when man of the match Adex Wera scored out wide after a good backline movement from Roger Laka and David Lapua to bring the score to 4-0. Laka failed to add the extras.
At the 14th minute, last weekend’s man of the match against the South Logan Magpies in Brisbane, Stargroth Amean went in for the Hunters second try after a good inside pass from his captain Israel Eliab. Laka added the extras to put Hunter in front 10-0. Finally the visitors ensured it wasn’t going to be one-way traffic to send in second-rower Tristan Lumley near the uprights.
With the easy conversion to skipper Luke Capewell, their confidence was grow-
ing and again scored again through five-eight Evander Cummins who stepped past several Hunters to score near the uprights, for another easy conversion for his skipper.
Few minutes before half time, Hunters Thompson Tete coming off the bench powered his way through like a raging bull from 20 metres out.
Then prior to the half-time hooter, Wera combining well with Laka went in for his second try to take a commanding 20-12 to half-time.
The visitors made sure they were in for a fight by being the first to score through Aron Whitchurch.
However with Wera continuing is try-scoring form, punched a hole from deep inside their half for an 80 metre break to the Dolphins
tryline. The home team surged ahead 26-16, but the Dolphins continued to find glitches in the Hunters defence for Cummins to go over for second converted try and four point gap.
However with eight minutes remaining Tete set up Amean to drive over on the far left hand corner for their last try of the match bringing the score to 30-22.
The visitors managed to have the last say with Darcy Etrich blowing several hunters in a determined run on the hooter to bring the final score to 30-26.
Dolphins Coach Troy Lindsay said they made a couple of mistakes during the match and they will be working on improving their performance for the next game.