Polye loses powers

Source: The National, Tuesday 28th Febuary 2012

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday removed all financial powers from major coalition partner Don Polye.
Polye, who leads the new Triumph
Heritage Empowerment Party and who was instrumental in putting O’Neill in power, was until yesterday Finance and Treasury Minister.
Today he is vested with Treasury, Border Development and a sprinkling of statutory institutions.
In a letter, O’Neill informed Polye that
his removal stemmed from recent events concerning the payout of landowner funds and also cited “runaway expenditure” in
the Department of Finance.
Polye only last week assured frustrated gas and oil landowners in Port Moresby that they would be paid their Infrastructure Development Grants (IDG) but only after all necessary government processes had been completed.
Last Friday, the landowners converged on Morauta Haus, which houses the offices of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to vent their frustration again.
“These project grants are to fund infrastructure projects such as public roads, bridges, schools, clinics, hospitals and so forth,” Polye had said.
“These funds are not cash handouts to landowners but are specifically grants made to those pro­vinces and local level governments affected by the PNG LNG project.”
Polye yesterday revealed that at least K129 million in IDG funds had been disbursed outside approved processes.
He said this was unlawful and promised an investigation.
Polye’s statement did not appease the prime minister who said in his letter on the decision to relieve him of financial powers:
“This decision is in light of complaints in relation to various landowner funds as per the state’s responsibilities and commitments under the Oil and Gas Act and UBSA (umbrella benefits sharing agreement) and various LBBSAs (licensed-based benefits sharing agreements) under the PNG LNG Agreement.
“Furthermore, the continuing lack of ability by the department and ministry of finance to contain expenditure overruns outside of the budget appropriations has not aba­ted since I wrote to you last,” O’Neill said.
“This decision is taken in the best interest of the government.”
Polye is now the minister for Treasury and Border Development,
the latter role having been
removed from the ministry of
Inter-Government Relation and District Deve­lopment.
O’Neill said last night the measure was temporary to resolve the pressing landowner issues and runaway expenditure.
But he did not indicate when the Finance portfolio would be returned to Polye.
He also hinted that a major reshuffle was imminent

Polye vows to find ‘missing’ K129mil

Source: The National, Tuesday 28th Febuary 2012

TREASURY Minister Don Polye yesterday promised an investigation into the disbursement of K129 million in landowner funds outside government approved processes.
Polye, who had the Finance portfolio stripped from him yesterday, said in a statement that since 2010, the government had placed aside K120 million a year under infrastructure development grants or a total K360 million to date. But K129 million has been paid, without sanction, by the expenditure implementation committee or central supply and tenders board.
“This is unlawful and will be investigated,” he said.
The government is con­tracted with landow­ners, provincial governments and local level governments impacted by the PNG LNG project to provide K1.2 billion over 10 years for new infrastructure and maintenance or rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.
These project grants were for infrastructure and not to be handed out in cash to landowners, the minister said.
The EIC is to process and implement the IDG projects, specifically to fund infrastructure in the four affected pro­vinces – Southern Highlands, Central, Gulf
and Western.
Polye said ministers, department secretaries, provincial governors and provincial administrators did not have any authority to pick the projects for these funds to be expended on.
That is the job of the EIC which is the sole authority charged with this responsibility.
The EIC is made up of the secretaries of National Planning and Monitoring, Petroleum and Energy, Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Works, affected provincial administrators and the project deve­loper.
All projects approved by the EIC that were in excess of K300,000 would need central supply and tenders board approval to comply with the Public Finances Management act, Polye said.
“IDG is not a cash benefit. I implore landow­ners to respect our laws and the UBSA which their representatives sign­ed and not to coerce the national government into doing illegal things by physical threats,” he said.
“We need to break with the past. K129 million has already been released from the IDG funds but no infrastructure has been delivered.
“This is wrong both in law and importantly, for me, morally.”

Somare: Stick to election schedule

Source: The National, Tuesday 28th Febuary 2012

By ISAAC NICHOLAS and JEFFREY ELAPA

GOVERNMENT’S proposal to postpone the election found ready opponents yesterday who say there are no valid reasons to support such a move.
Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah floated the idea on the weekend, saying updating the electoral roll was behind schedule and the introduction of a bio-metric-based voting system would need six months to implement.
But deposed prime minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the Trade Union Congress and non-governmental agency
Transparency International felt that the explanation was flimsy at best.
Sir Michael said the news should not come as a surprise to people of Papua New Guinea.
“The move is consistent with the string of other actions by the O’Neill-Namah regime since taking office illegally on Aug 2 last year.
 “Knowing that the election cannot be deferred they will have to suspend the Constitution.”
He said the people of Papua New Guinea must stop listening to their reasons for continually violating the standing orders of parliament; the Personnel Management Act and the Constitution.
 “We cannot allow the elections to be deferred or the Constitution to be suspended.
 “I call on O’Neill and Namah to go to the election and prove your legitimacy.
“You cannot defer the elections. In the interest of the people of Papua New Guinea the elections must go ahead,” Sir Michael said.
TUC general secretary John Paska said the congress strongly opposed the government’s intention to postpone the 2012 general election.
 “It is very disturbing to hear of reports of the O’Neill government faction’s intention to postpone the election.
“There just isn’t any credible justification to do so,” Paska said.
Paska, from Kavieng, New Ireland province, said there could be justifiable reasons to postpone election in the Southern Highlands province out of fear of violence but the rest of the country remained peaceful and keen to exercise their right to choose a legitimate government.
“These invaluable rights cannot be held to ransom by the un-preparedness of one or two provinces.”
The congress had consulted national and provincial electoral officers as well as the police who had said they were prepared to conduct the election.
 “So where is this preposterous idea coming from?”
Paska said serious constitutional questions still remained unresolved over the legitimacy of the government.
“This latest gimmick cuts deeply into the constitutional rights of the people of PNG, giving rise to the perception that the O’Neill faction is predisposed to reshape and bend the Constitution any which way they choose to suit their ends.
“It cannot and must not be
tolerated under any circumstances.
“We condemn it in the strongest possible terms and call on the Opposition and MPs not to support it,” Paska said.
Transparency International PNG chairman Lawrence Stephens said: “We have the experience of eight elections and the efforts of a large number of good people behind the preparations for the coming election.
“We view with the greatest concern suggestions that we should delay the elections scheduled to commence on June 23.
“The people of Papua New Guinea know that it is their right to vote for their representatives now.
“They know that the thought of hanging onto public office for a little longer is very attractive to those about to face the judgement of their electorates.
“It is too easy to say we are not prepared for the election and use this as an excuse to stay in power longer.
 “It appears to us that we are, once again, witnessing MPs looking for a way to exempt themselves from facing the consequences of their actions.
“TI PNG is reliably informed that the electoral rolls are as ready as they have ever been and possibly more so.
“It is extremely disappointing to hear that MPs are deliberately creating fear with the impression that we are less prepared than we have been in the past.”

Wilshere facilitates football clinic for school kids in Wabag

Source: The National, Tuesday 28th Febuary 2012

WABAG Primary School in Enga is the first beneficiary of the Fresh Water Grassroots football clinic after the launch in Port Moresby last month.
The clinic aimed to teach boys and girls at the ages of 12 and 16 basic ball handling and defensive skills for both rugby league and union.
School principal Mark Sakol invited the foundation to hold a clinic for the 17 schools in the district.
Wabag MP Sam Abal supported the clinic with logistics for the team to travel to Wabag in an effort to engage local children in activities that build team spirit and camaraderie.
Abal urged other MPs to assist their local schools in bringing the clinics to the children in their communities.
More than 180 school children from the Wabag district participated in the clinic.
The clinic was hosted by former PNG Kumul captain John Wilshere.
The clinics aim to develop youth football and teach not only basic skills but also lessons about healthy living and healthy lifestyles, and team work on and off the field.
As part of the clinic, 20 volunteers from the school community were trained to conduct clinics so that they could continue after the team departs.
A workbook complete with drills will also be sent to schools to assist those conducting the clinics, and to complete the skills transfer process from trainers such as Wilshere to the volunteers in the local community.
The Fresh Water team also donated sporting equipment to support future clinics.
To initiate a clinic at your local school contact Fresh Water via P&B Cheung, Koki in Port Moresby

State may defer poll

Source: The National, Monday 27th Febuary 2012

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE government is considering postponing the 2012 general election by at least six months to ensure the common roll update is completed, deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah said.
It will also allow election officials time to put in place a bio-metric voting system to ensure a fair and just election.
Namah told a media conference yesterday that Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, Madang regional MP Sir Arnold Amet and Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga had accepted that the electoral roll was incomplete.
“There will be a failed election and the government will take a position on the deferral. We will introduce a bio-metric system using electronic voting to save costs,” he said.
It will take up to six months to have the electronic system in place and the government, through parliament, will decide on March 20, when parliament resumes.
“Now we will have to make wider consultations to seek views of all stakeholders on the next course of action – to delay the election or not,” Namah said.
Parliament last Friday dedicated the session to debating a statement to the House on the preparation for the general election presented by the leader of government business, Moses Maladina.
The government questioned the report by Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen on the election preparation that the electoral roll “is about 60% complete, meaning 2.4 million of PNG’s four million adults are eligible voters”.
Maladina told parliament that 40% of the common roll update was incomplete for the highlands provinces, especially the new Jiwaka province, Enga and Western Highlands.
“I have since received independent reports that this is not correct,” Maladina said.
“Yesterday afternoon (Thursday) the electoral commissioner admitted that there were some ‘pockets’ within the regions (Southern, New Guinea Islands and Momase) which were incomplete.”
Maladina said he had received independent reports that electoral rolls for the nation’s 89 open electorates had not been returned to many electorates.
In response to the report, tabled in parliament but not yet available to the public, Maladina gave a six-month approximate deadline for the introduction of bio-metric technology.
It identifies people through a characteristic unique to them, such as fingerprint. The system had been considered by the government of Sir Michael Somare following allegations of voter fraud in the 2007 election.
“This government has now re-engaged with the Indian government and entered into an agreement with the Indian Unique Identification Authority to establish a bio-metric identification scheme in PNG,” he said.
“On current estimates, it will take at least six months for a bio-metric system to be put in place.”
Former attorney-general Sir Arnold told the chamber he would consider supporting a temporary suspension of the election if it meant that they would be free and fair.
Sir Arnold said he would be supporting a bi-partisan push to suspend the election.
“Forty per cent (unregistered voters) at this point is grossly unacceptable,” he said.
“It may be in the nation’s interest that the election be deferred for an appointed time.”

Election will clash with royal visit, says deputy PM

Source: The National, Monday 27th Febuary 2012

DEPUTY Prime Minister Belden Namah has questioned the wisdom in holding the general election during a visit by the Prince of Wales and his wife in June.
He raised the concern in parliament in light of also the incomplete common roll update by the Electoral Commission and security preparations.
Namah said during debate last Friday that Papua New Guinea was part of the Commonwealth and election was a key feature of its member countries.
He said the royal visit in June, when there was likely to be election-related violence, was not good.
Namah said it was in the interest of the nation that a fair and just election be conducted using the bio-metric system which would take at least six months to be commissioned.
The other reason he raised to warrant the putting back of the election was the LNG project construction which should peak between March and September this year.
Tari-Pori MP and chairman of Hela Transitional Authority James Marape supported that view, saying the LNG project created 3.5% of the growth rate enjoyed by the country.
He suggested that the two events should not overlap.
Marape said Southern Highlands had experienced a failed election in 2002 and election-related violence should not be underestimated.
He said the number of trucks carrying cargo on the highway from Lae to the project site in Southern Highlands would increase from 200 a month to 1,000.
Election-related issues could result in delaying the LNG project schedule.
“The LNG project cannot afford to have a one-year delay.
“There will be huge cost build-up and it also needs to meet market deadline.
“The election process must not impinge on a very important project for the nation,” he said.

Parinjo killed in mob attack

Source: The National, Monday 27th Febuary 2012

By GABRIEL FITO and THOMAS HUKAHU

WEWAK police station commander Snr Insp Charles Parinjo was allegedly killed when he confronted a drunken mob obstructing traffic while on his way home last Saturday night.
The mob was obstructing traffic at a section of the West Coast highway at Kaindi and, in a bid to disperse them, Parinjo was attacked and killed.
He was heading home to Boikin village when the incident happened between 8pm and 8.30p“During the confrontation with the mob, Parinjo was hit by a PMV and dragged for several metres before being left to die,” East Sepik provincial law and order chairman Timothy Wani said.
Parinjo was rushed to the hospital by lawyer Michael S Wagambie.
An examination at Wewak General Hospital revealed Parinjo, who was pronounced dead on arrival, had suffered multiple injuries to his body.

Tension was high in the area yesterday as police sought out the suspects, Wani said.

He said police had burned down several houses near the scene of the killing.

A suspect was in custody while the search is continuing for others involved in the officer’s death.

Police from Aitape and Vanimo townships joined their Wewak counterparts in the manhunt yesterday.

Wani denounced the killing of the young senior officer who had stood “by the books” to enforce law and order without fear or favour.

“He was a respected policeman. He had done a lot in a short time to improve working conditions for police in the province,” he said.

“His killing should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”

Wagambie, who was travelling with a group of people to Wewak from Hawaiin, said Parinjo’s death had happened near a local club that sold alcohol.

The group was confronted by a man armed with an iron rod when they stopped the vehicle.

The man was pulled away by bystanders who told Wagambie and his group to assist Parinjo.

Wagambie’s group put the injured Parinjo into their vehicle and took him to hospital.

Wagambie said the community’s failure to curb alcohol, homebrew and consumption of illicit drugs was behind many of the country’s problems.

“Homebrew particularly is the problem in communities. Failure to contain its production and consumption has resulted in violence, conflicts, deaths and related issues,” he said

Please speed up overdue road payments

Source: yutok, Post Courier, February 27, 2012

IT IS imperative for the O’Neill-Namah Government to intervene to make road improvement payments to people living along the 20 meter corridor on either side of the road along the Sirunki- Laigiam Section of the Highlands Highway. The frustration over the delay in these payments has culminated into people setting up a road block along the Apanda to Lymala section of the Highlands highway in Enga.
The ADB funded road sealing by Lorma Construction has been completed and Works Department has failed to honour its commitment of making the road improvement payment by June 2012.
We the beneficiaries of the payments served several other letters to the bureaucracy of the department as well as several MPs without any results.
We feel we have exhausted every other avenue in pursuing this case, and now it is only fitting for us to seek the ultimate intervention of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his deputy Belden Namah to exercise their prerogative to direct a speed up this payment as many old men and women who are beneficiaries of the payment are dying.
Their intervention would further cement the affection the populace have for them for delivering free education and free health care.
The last resort left is to completely shut off the said section of the Highlands Highway if nothing prevails come 2012 election time.
We stand ready to fight for our right tooth and nail if things never turn out as we desire.
Komson Nick Kome
Sirunki

Abel wants PNG to export more goods

Source:Post Courier, February 27, 2012

By PATRICK TALU
 

Papua New Guinea should have its own downstream processing facilities to refine and process its natural resources and export the final products to the offshore markets.
Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industries Charles Abel, in light of the demands for PNG’s natural resources especially making reference to the European markets demands for PNG tuna and palm oil, said PNG should have its own downstream processing onshore.
Minister Abel when asked whether his talk on having an onshore processing facilities was just a consideration or an actual policy for the government, told this reporter last Friday during a signing of the second interim economic partnership agreement (iEPA) with the European Union that it was consistent and in line with the government’s Vision 2050 plan.
Minister Abel said currently PNG tuna loins and palm oil are major commodities that have high demands in EU markets and in order to maintain and remain competitive.
He said PNG in the long term should look at improving the markets by way of having onshore processing facilities.
Already, PNG has several tuna facilities in Lae, Madang and Wewak and the current Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in Madang which is said to be a flagship fishery project that will underpin the country’s major tuna export to EU and other markets outside of EU.
Mr Abel, while signing the second iEPA with EU Director General for Trade Peter Thomson, witnessed by EU Ambassador Dr Martin Dihm and acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Lucy Bogari and other EU trade delegates, said economic and social development opportunities that are anchored in the iEPA are important for PNG.
He said PNG is to make use of the preferential market access opportunities and development assistance enshrined in the agreement.
Mr Thomason commended the PNG-EU partnership stressing the importance of one hand making the most of the iEPA and on the other hand exploring options for a way forward.
“The parties noted that this could include the possible accessing of other African Caribbean Pacific states to the iEPA and expansion of the agreement to include further areas of corporation such as services, investments, fisheries and development,” Mr Thomson said.
The agreement is expected to see a creation of 53,000 employment opportunities that will see many of PNG women being employed.
The EU comprises of 27 member countries in Europe.
It is the world’s largest trading entity and most lucrative consumer market.

LNG money dispute spills to PM’s office

Source: The National, Monday 27th Febuary 2012

By LESLIE OMARO
ANGRY landowners from Southern Highlands province’s liquefied natural project site came close to storming Morauta Haus last Friday after the government failed to pay them as promised.  
On Feb 15, Finance and Treasury Minister and Kandep MP Don Polye assured the landowners at Vulupindi Haus that they would receive their Infrastructure Development and High Impact Project grants by last Friday.
After lunch on Friday, more than 300 disgruntled landowners marched to Morauta House, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office and several government departments and blocked the main gate.
The landowners demanded to see Prime Minister Peter O’Neill so he could explain why their
payments had been delayed “again”.
The landowners from the project impacted areas including Hides, Moran, Gobe, Kutubu, Angora and Juha were made to wait outside Vulupindi Haus until lunch last Friday.
When they found out they were not getting any word from the ministers responsible, they marched to the PM’s office to demand an
immediate explanation for the delay.
Police mobile squads from the Highlands and National Capital District were on stand-by, providing security in front of the PM’s office and protecting the premises and staff from the rowdy crowd.
Kuyalo Angro, a chief from the Alo clan, said clan leaders were upset that the government had not lived up to its word again.
“The government must stop telling lies and pay us our money quickly,” Angro said.
“Don Polye told us that we would be getting paid today (last Friday).
“Where is he? Can he come out and explain why he lied?”
But at 4.50pm, an agreement was reached between the landowners and the prime minister’s office to meet and discuss the issue.
Tepele Tope, from Southeast Mananda, in Kutubu, PDL 2, said on Saturday O’Neill met with leaders Thomas Gamu, from Angorom and Tom Paul from Juha and assured them that the government would pay the landowners tomorrow.

Kandep has oil and gas

Source; Post Courier, February 22,2010

By MOHAMMAD BASHIR

He was barely two years old but recalls seeing 15 left hand drive American made vehicles in his village. At that time in 1972, he did not have a clue what those vehicles and Americans were doing but now realises that oil and gas exploration activities were being undertaken.
Legend has it that Kandep, home of the Openas, is floating on a sea of oil and gas. While major oil and gas projects are being undertaken on the Huli side of the region, one Kandepian and his clansmen are adamant that his district is the engine room for oil and gas deposits in the country.
Muniah Ker Las Aku reckons Kandep in Enga Province has the biggest oil and gas deposits. Armed with a map printout of some geological survey undertaken some years back, Mr Aku walked into the Post-Courier newsroom to declare that his people want developers to go into Kandep.
He said the gas and oil developments in Southern Highlands Province were only leakages from Kandep, which he said was the core and mother of all deposits.
Mr Aku said according to legend, Porgera, Mt Kare, Kutubu, Juha, Angore, Gobe and Hides were all results of prophesies told hundreds of years back but the only one left to be fulfilled was Kandep.
Several company representatives have already visited the area to identify the oil and gas deposits.
Some drilling was also done some years ago but to date, no activity is visible in the area.
Mr Aku and his clansmen have been busy in recent months trying to lure a developer. He said when developed, Kandep has the potential to pass 100 years life span and will be bigger than the current multi-billion kina PNG LNG project in the Southern Highlands.
Kandep is part of the Huli-Opena region and is on the Opena side but shares the same border with Angore, Juha and Hides in the Huli side

Bringing Enga forward . . .

Source: Weekender, Posr Courier, December 3-4, 2011

Peter Ipatas is investing in human resources in Enga Province, a move hailed by many as a step in the right direction to ensuring that one day, Enga will no longer be known as the last frontier

By DAVID MURI

I COULDN’T precisely recall here but sometime in 2009, Peter Ipatas called me from Jacksons Airport that he was on the morning flight to Mt Hagen.
Governor Ipatas wanted me to accompany him to cover a presentation at the Highland Lutheran School at Amapyaka where he’d donate a brand new vehicle. The vehicle, a fully kitted Toyota 10-seater troop carrier was awaiting pick-up at the Ela Motors yard.
It was bought with savings from the Enga Children’s Fund – the councillor-cum governor’s own brainchild. Ipatas arrived with former EM TV personality and his long-time sidekick John Eggins. We met at Ela Motors where he got the keys. Even though we had extra drivers on our convoy the Ipatas decided to drive his children’s car himself.
As his nickname goes, the “action governor” wasted no time. He wanted us to move right away. He started the car and I hoped on. We headed straight for Wapenamanda. His escorts followed us closely.
We had a brief stopover at the border of Western Highlands and the governor checked who were on the procession. He was bitterly frustrated when he realized that John Eggins was not in the convoy. Eggins delayed his stay in Mt Hagen for family matters but caught up with us later.
We had to proceed without Eggins even though he was an important member of his entourage. The governor didn’t want to waste any time because there were much more important people than us waiting at Amapyaka. These were students and the teachers. That’s how Governor Ipatas holds every Engan school child with high esteem. He can do anything in their name.
Others can make presentations on his or the Enga Provincial Government’s behalf in other occasions but when it comes to education, you will not miss him. The point I’m trying to raise here is that Governor Ipatas is one man who is promoting education in his province big-time with his various policies and schemes. He is trying to change that “wild west” tag into a province that will one day become PNG’s human resource backbone.
I was prompted to write this article after several prominent people from my own Western Highlands fear that Enga will rule PNG in the near future with its well-educated population. And there’s no doubt! Engans are educated in every field today and not many people are realizing this important investment their governor is spearheading.
My own governor Tom olga admitted in a lunch-hour meeting at Parliament House last month that there is no doubt Engans will rule and reign in PNG within the next decade.
“Governor Ipatas is certainly investing in education and his people will shortly control this nation,” says Governor Olga, who also focuses on promoting education in his own province.
Another Western Highlands businessman James Yoka Ekip made similar sentiments in an earlier discussion. “Ipatas is putting money into a very fundamental area in human resource development which is poised to bring his province out of the doldrums. Many governors are ignoring what he is doing but in 15 years we’ll be surprised to see that Engans will hold very important positions in both public and private sectors,” Yoka predicts.
He said Ipatas is wisely investing the royalties from the Porgera gold mine into developing the human resource of the province.
After the Porgera mine Enga will still sustain itself through its investments human resources.
His investments are reflected in the high number of students in tertiary institutions. Thirty-five per cent of students at PNG’s premier university, UPNG, are of Enga origin. He has also established a branch of the Institute of Business Studies in Wabag recently. The Enga Teachers College at his Irelya Village is into competition and new teacher trainee intake will be early next year. He is also sponsoring Engan pilots.
Many students are also being sponsored through the Ipatas Foundation chaired by Issac Lupari. The winning Sir Tei Abel Secondary School in the2011 IBS school debate competition was also sponsored by the foundation. Many Engans will become successful shortly and those successes will be attributed to this governor’s foresight and vision. Ipatas is a man who will have left so many legacies to be remembered by many successful people
Watch out PNG! Enga will not be the last frontier anymore. As the saying goes; the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Company records show 5 boat mishaps

Source: Post Courier, February 24, 2012

By GORETHY KENNETH

RABAUL Shipping, the company that owned the ill-fated MV Rabaul Queen which sank with hundreds on board three weeks ago has had five of its vessels involved in maritime accidents in the last 10 years.
This is also the shipping company that owns Kimbe Queen, the passenger boat that ran into a reef in Abau three weeks ago with 170 passengers.
This week the same ship ran aground on a coral reef near Kimbe with 34 passengers and is now docked at the Bialla wharf.
Works and Transport Minister Francis Awesa revealed this yesterday from a report he said he would table in the inquiry into the Rabaul Queen disaster.
Mr Awesa said there was also a report detailing discrepancies over the shipping operation but did not detail the latter because that report was due to be presented to the investigations and inquiry into the Rabaul Queen sinking disaster. Mr Awesa said that the report before him would be tabled to the investigation team.
According to the report, the ships that have been involved in accidents and sinkings in PNG waters in the past decade, specifically Milne Bay, East New Britain, Kimbe, Bougainville and now Morobe include MV Chris, MV Moime, MV Trader, MV Samazen and MV Kuanua and recently MV Rabaul Queen.

Police warn locals against roadblocks

Source: The National, Wednesday 22nd Febuary 2012

AEPANDA and Lyamala villagers, in the Laiagam district of Enga province, have been warned not to disrupt transportation by setting up road blocks.
Provincial police commander Martin Lakari issued the warning yesterday after the villa­gers chopped trees down to block a 3km section of the Wabag-Porgera road, bringing traffic to a standstill on Monday.
Chief Supt Lakari said more than 100 policemen had to be called in to clear the roadblock between Aepanda and Lyamala.
Police, using axes, chainsaws and dump trucks needed nine hours to remove the trees from the road.
Lakari said the road belonged to the government and the villagers did not have any right to block it and cause inconvenience for road users.
They were proper procedures to follow if the villagers had any grie­vances with the Works Department on road improvement payments.
Taking the law into their hands would not help solve any problem and would create another problem, Lakari said.
The villagers had blocked the road to protest the prolonged delay by the Works Department in paying them for improvements to the road.
Lakari said the assessment on the improvements on the sides of the road were carried out by the Works Department when construction began two years ago, but so far no payment had been made.
He said the villagers held a secret meeting on Sunday and on Monday morning they chopped down trees growing by the roadside.
Police will now monitor the area and will arrest anyone setting up a roadblock.

Porgera locals invest in coffee

Source: The National, Wednesday 08th Febuary 2012

THE people of Porgera in Enga will now focus on rehabilitating and generating income from coffee apart from awaiting royalty payments from the Porgera gold mine, the country’s biggest.
The people decided to come up with this idea because once the gold was finished they would switch to coffee as another major resource that could help them earn a living.
With the gold mine in place, people – especially landowners – have been depending on royalties from the mine but that benefit would end when the gold runs out.
Porgera cooperative society chairman Thomas Kulara said coffee must become the next main resource for people.
He said  to make this plan become successful the national and provincial governments, Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) and  Porgera Development Authority (PDA) must fund and support cooperative societies in the district so they can help the people when the mine wound down its operation.
Kulara said funds and support needed to be given to the coffee growers through the cooperative societies so that that could help maintain the cash flow and the lives of the people.
Kulara said whatever funds and support given would be very important.
The people needed the government, PDA and PJV to come to their aid to promote coffee in the district.
Porgera was very fertile and could produce more coffee once support was being given to it.
Kulara said this sustainable development plan to grow coffee was taken by the people themselves and that was why they wanted the government, PJV and PDA to come to their aid and fund it.
He said such plans and funding must be in place because maintaining the cash flow and building up the economy was important to the people and the country

SHP leaders’ greed make citizens poorer

Source: The National, Wednesday 22nd Febuary 2012

I AM disgusted and frustrated with Southern Highlands leaders who are leading our province.
This rich province is going to the dogs due to a lack of quality leadership and people are dying in villages, with no roads and clinics for proper treatment.
Some do not even have a toea in their pockets because there is no  accessibility to town or market to sell their produce.
Mendi is filthy and full of potholes, with street sellers everywhere.
Being a leader means to be a servant and not worry about how much you will earn as an MP.
We must pray hard because a true leader comes from God, one who does not take bribes
or pay for votes. I am sorry for Southern Highlanders.
Lord, please inspire our leaders to serve.

Mul Pem Komo
Via email

Dealing with water woes

Source: The National, Friday 17th Febuary 2012

IT’S Monday morning. Josephine is awakened by her mother to go and fetch water at a main tap located not far from where they live.
Quickly Josephine runs to the main tap to fill two big containers with water to use to bath and make her morning tea.
It’s a daily routine for Josephine who lives in a settlement in Port Moresby to fetch water for the family to use.
“Living in a settlement is tough and one must be strong to put up with the challenges that come with living in a settlement.
“And one of those challenges is getting water because everybody used to get water from one tap and sometimes the pressure is low and sometimes there is no water at all,” said Josephine mother.
On Tuesday this week Eda Ranu facilitated a water vending seminar aimed at encouraging people especially those living in settlements to pay for the water they use.
Josephine’s mother was one of the many participants that attended the seminar and open forum the next day to learn more about the new concept Eda Ranu was going to bring into the settlements.
“I like the concept because it’s going to be organised and I know we will never have problems with access to water.
“At last we won’t be accused for using free water because now we will be paying for the water we  use,” she said. 
 Water supply in Port Moresby has come a long way. Archives tell of the system being built in 1950s. Since then the network from source to treatment plant to distribution system and to the customer taps has increased tremendously.
History also records that billing users was practiced until people’s attitudes changed dramatically during the transition phases of the city’s administration starting from ANGAU through to ward systems, city council and the interim NCDC days.
Lack of proper organisation and monitoring, breakdown of control and malpractices in management led to the collapse of bill collection and residents of NCD enjoyed free water during colonial days.
Port Moresby is home to people from different cultural backgrounds (800 plus different languages) that perceive, value and manage water differently.
Some even claim to own water because the source is on their customary land (60-70% of land in PNG is still customary owned).
Others claim to be landlords after occupying a certain piece of land over a long period of time and authorities are unable to remove them.
Meeting the grossly over populated national capital’s water and sanitation needs as a result of rapid rural-urban drift is a daunting challenge but one upon which Eda Ranu strives on to challenge itself to be innovative and consumer cost effective.
Chairperson of Association of Small Scale Water providers and founder Ms Elsa Meija from Philippines was the guest speaker at the seminar and open forum and spoke to water committee members about her experience in the water vending business.
Meija told the water committee members from the settlements about the water vending concept using the Philippines scenario.
Meija who started supplying and distributing water in 1997 to 50, 000 plus people in urban and rural settlements in the Philippines said the secret of water vending was total participation by the whole settlement community.
She said her company called the Impact Water Workers and Development Corporation (IWADCO) project impact areas were health, education and gender.
Meija said not only must the water vender go out and supply water and collect fees but must also assist the community with projects that will benefit the community.
Water vending in principle is retailing by contractors to consumers in selected communities arranged through a Water Vending Agreement (WVA) signed between the principle water supplier Eda Ranu and selected water vendor for a particular community such as a traditional village or a settlement within the city’s boundaries upon receipt of an invoice.
As a retailer the water vendor will pay Eda Ranu through the community.
The retailer will then put up a markup within the range as stipulated in the WVA and collect from consumers.
The water vendor will manage and be in total control of water consumed in the selected communities and enforce appropriate measures to ensure consumers comply with the conditions as set out in the WVA.
The water vending concept is a business venture and could be operated by an individual or a group.
The water vendor shall be a duly registered company with the Investment Promotion Authority with an operating bank account and an operating office and manpower with the appropriate plumbing skills to provide the services required by Eda Ranu.
 Eda Ranu CEO Billy Imar when opening the one day seminar in Port Moresby pointed out that one of their major challenges to date is Non Revenue Water (NRW) which accounts for about 60% of the total production or total inflow into the city’s supply and distribution system.
He said that minimising and maintaining optimum levels of water distribution after some NRW reduction projects and turning the NRW into revenue water is a gigantic problem that Eda Ranu faces everyday.
“Evident contributing factors are illegal connections within state leased properties and unbilled supply to settlements and traditional villages although there are laws in place to guide these.
“Currently enforcing the laws is a huge problem and an on going task of water mains disconnection is being carried out on an as reported basis particularly within sub divided areas with state leased titles.
“A project or a major exercise was started in December 2010 that ran only for a few months.
This was to have been implemented to cover an entire suburb of Gerehu however due to security reasons it has been put on hold,” said Imar.
The ever increasing problem of squatter settlements and illegal occupation of state land and customary land has put a demand on Eda Ranu’s services.
Imar said other customary land occupation involves land sale agreements between landowners and private individuals of which a remarkable increase had being noted in recent times.
“It generates a problem where there is no established regulation or policy to regulate such practices whereby the state or the authorities can enforce and facilitate whenever demand for basic services are requested by private individuals, a classic example of this is the Taurama Valley area.
“We do face some setbacks or hindrances in educating the general public (water awareness), Conservation Action Plan, under estimated future demand for water and lack of liaison and collaboration with government authorities to address the issues faced by settlements.
“Eda Ranu like other SOEs is looking at innovative ways to convert the non revenue water in peri-urban areas into revenue water in consultation with the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation programme.
“Eda Ranu aims to achieve its water and sanitation service targets as set out in the millennium development goals,” said Imar

Open seats cut back to 89

Source: The National, Thursday 23rd Febuary 2012

PARLIAMENT has unanimously passed legislative amendments to reduce the Open seats from 110 to 89 in accordance with the Constitution.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who introduced the second reading of the bill got the support (79-0 votes) to make amendments to the organic law on national and local level government elections.
He said the amendment was a follow-up to the previous amendment to retain the provincial seats for governors
standing in the 2012 election.
O’Neill said the constitution, when it was amended in view of removing the provincial seats, also increased the open seats from 89 to 110.
He said the amendments would ensure there were no less than 89 open electorates and no more than 120 open electorates.
He said once the population increased and there was a need for more representation, new open seats could be created

MPs exchange punches

Source: The National, Thursday 23rd Febuary 2012

By JEFFREY ELAPA

A DISAGREEMENT in parliament yesterday ended with a brawl outside the debating chamber, leaving Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather nursing a bloody face.
Housing Minister Fairweather and Middle Ramu MP Ben Semri, a former fisheries minister now sitting with deposed prime minister Sir Michael Somare’s group in the middle benches, had a heated exchange over the lack of services for the people. Both represent electorates in Madang province.
It was sparked off when Fairweather interrupted Semri’s speech to parliament.
Semri was speaking on issues involving Middle Ramu Block One, saying his people needed services when  Fairweather broke in to ask what he was going to deliver to the people in Middle Ramu.
Semri made a rude hand gesture at Fairweather who responded by standing up and trying to remove his tie while calling Semri out for a fight before walking out of the chambers.
An angry Semri then shocked
parliament when he shouted out: “You white bxxxxxd.”
Lae MP and Public Service Minister Bart Philemon raised a point of order and asked Semri to withdraw his unacceptable parliamentary language, which Semri did.
Deputy Speaker Francis Marus said leaders should be mindful not to use unparliamentary language.
Deputy Prime Minster Belden Namah also described the language as unprofessional and should not be used against each other by MPs.
Semri told parliament he had been angered because Fairweather had tried to remove his tie for a fight.
Fairweather returned to the chamber a few minutes later as parliament began voting on the bill to create 22 reserved seats for women.
Semri walked out of the chamber with other MPs who did not want to vote on the bill.
When parliament adjourned, Semri waited for Fairweather on the second floor of Parliament House and blindsided Fairweather with a punch which saw the Sumkar MP suffer a minor cut to his face.
Both men then removed their ties and exchanged punches for a couple of minutes before other MPs stepped in to separate the two members of parliament.
Earlier, an argument had also developed between Semri and Higher Education Minister David Arore but
was defused by other MPs

Marape resigns from NA party

Source: Highlands news, Post Courier, February 21, 2012

By PORENI UMAU
TARI-Pori MP James Marape yesterday announced his resignation from the National Alliance (NA) Party.
When announcing his decision to cut ties from the NA Party an emotional Mr Marape expressed sadness for a party where he was a senior member, and rose to deputy leader of the party and was a senior minister.
But he said that duties as chairman of the Hela Transitional Authority had taken precedence over his own personal political interest.
Mr Marape said that his resignation was accepted by the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare during the NA meeting last Sunday.
He then requested for the Speaker to find him a place as an Independent MP, with views of working closely with Prime Minister O’Neill’s Government while awaiting formalities of his resignation to be completed by NA and the Office of Political Parties and Candidates.
He has also indicated support for the Peoples National Congress (PNC) Party.
“I am indicating a strong support for the PNC Party because of the Prime Minister O’Neill’s view on key infrastructures in the Southern Highlands Province and Hela, including the long outstanding road construction and sealing from Mendi to Kopiago,” Mr Marape said.
He also said that with his role as chairman of Hela, he must enter into discussions with chairman of the National Executive Council and Prime Minister, which has caused his move to take his place at the negotiation table for Hela.
“They are important outstanding issues like discussing the splits of Hela and Southern Highlands assets. This includes the proceeds from the Liquefied Natural Gas project which is currently under Southern Highlands Provincial Government,” Mr Marape said.
He said that these discussions must take place before the writs were issued in April.
“Because of these outstanding Hela issues, I now take my place in the middle bench to offer support to Prime Minster Peter O’Neill,” he said.
Mr Marape was education minister in the former somare -Abal Government

Maintain hospital facilities — CEO

Source: Highlands Post, Post Courier, February 15, 2012
By JOHNNY POIYA

The chief executive officer of Wabag General Hospital Salan Eri has questioned the logic in Enga Governor Peter Ipatas’ push for the construction of a new provincial hospital.
While Governor Ipatas is speeding up ground works and land payment for the hospital, the man responsible for the existing hospital is not happy and opposes the whole idea of a new hospital.
The Enga Provincial Government last week made a payment of K8.9million to landowners for the acquisition of the land on which the new hospital would stand.
Mr Eri has so far written two letters to Governor Ipatas, Enga Provincial Administration, Health Secretary and National Planning, opposing the idea of a new hospital and called for refurbishment of the existing hospital. His calls have fallen on deaf ears.
“Why is the Governor so adamant on a new hospital when all existing facilities in the province are totally run down? If we really care for the health of the Enga people, we should maintain and upkeep the existing facilities.” Mr Eri said

In line with this article...........

Photograph below is state of Kambiya sub-health center in Mariant constituency in Kandep, Enga Province. Such much needed services has been for ever neglected in the remote part of Enga.

 Kambiya Sub-health center had long being neglected

Condition of the small storage room for medication supplies. Only the skeleton holds here.

Govt must be lauded for K480m road project

Source: yutok, Post Courier, February 15, 2012

IT gives me great pleasure to read of the announcement by the Minister for Works and Transport Francis Awesa to fund the upgrading and sealing of the Kandep-Mendi and Laiagam-Porgera roads under the Multi-Finance Loan contract which is co-funded by the Asian Development Bank and the PNG government.
The constituency is home to a world class gold mine managed by Barrick Gold and after 25 years of contributing millions of Kinna to the public purse, it is high time these neglected roads were improved.
I am very grateful to the O’Neill-Namah government for making these two historic projects worth K480 million a reality.
It will not doubt contribute to sustained economic growth for the agriculture and mineral sector in the long term.
Thanks are also due to the proponents behind the projects in the Kandep MP Don Polye and the Member for Lagaip-Porgera Philip Kikala.
We commend you all on making this a reality.

Stephen Kikala

Related posts: http://kandepmyhome.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/credit-should-go-to-mp-joseph-not-polye.html
                                  http://kandepmyhome.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/k480m-road-funding-welcome-news-for.html

Below are photograph of the road connection where this money will be used

Laiagam Niung junction, road will take the right to Kandep

 Road will pass through Lyian road, this is section of the lyian mountain

Road will pass through Kandep station here

 Beyond Kandep station towards southern end is another junction, on the right is to margarima and on the left is the road link to Mendi.

At Kimblam is the final junction and both of these road leads to Mendi town. With this funding, it will take the route on the right via kondo, lakalap, winja, sopa and reach map in mendi where these two roads meet again.

Road will pass through Warakamb, Winja in Kandep

Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

This is Sopa bridge where road will pass through - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

This is section of road after descending biiwiri mountain in lai-valley - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep


This is bii-wiri mountain where road will pass through - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Section of road before reaching biiwiri mountain while travelling from mendi - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

This is the Meland bridge and up the top is meland village - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Section of road before reaching Map 1 village - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Wara Wapul bridge - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Wara Mendi bridge at query - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep


Section of road after leaving tende junction where road leads to upper mendi and Karints - Photo courtesy of http://davidlupton.smugmug.com/Papua-New-Guinea/Mendi-Kandep

Will finally reach the existing road in Mendi, this is Mendi hospital and towards the edge of the photograph is the junction as was mentioned in previous photograph.

 This is Mendi airport

Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party ("T.H.E. Party") is a political party in Papua New Guinea. It was founded in 2012 by Don Polye, the then Minister for Finance.

Background

Polye had first entered Parliament in the 2002 general election, as a member of the National Alliance Party, the largest party in Parliament, whose leader Sir Michael Somare became Prime Minister. In August 2011, the NAP-led Somare government was brought down in a parliamentary motion of no confidence (while Somare was recovering from surgery in hospital), leading to a split in the party, between members who remained loyal to Somare, and others -including Polye- who joined Peter O'Neill's new government. In October, it was reported simultaneously that the party was expelling the latter, and that Polye had assumed leadership of the party. What had happened was a split, with two opposing factions both claiming to constitute the party. In January 2012, Polye purported to de-register the NAP, despite the existence of a rival faction. The members of his faction reconstituted themselves as the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party, ahead of the June 2012 general election. The new party was officially launched at the Granville Motel in Port Moresby on 23 January.

When three National Alliance MPs (Timothy Bonga, Sasa Zibe and Bob Dadea) chose to join O'Neill's People's National Congress Party rather than Polye's new party, Polye reportedly said "that the battle lines for the formation of new government after the coming elections were being drawn between his new party and O’Neill’s party", suggesting the two parties would become the major political forces of the country, eclipsing what was left of the National Alliance.

Values and policies

During his inaugural speech which launched the party, Polye said it would be "focusing on trying to restore Christian values, the churches to give counselling on the value of the family unit as family is the foundation of a stable society". It would also, he said, address the issues of "climate change, environment and wildlife conservation". The party would seek to promote a "diversified economy", and, in terms of foreign policy, would "modernise strategic partnerships". He added:

"I want a policy to improve the salary, working and living conditions for all professional public servants, a rural and urban housing scheme, strengthening the village court system through improving salaries and living conditions, strengthening existing delivery systems by DSIP, promoting gender equity, free education for all ages and to support technical skills."

In addition to the acronym it produces, Polye explained the name of the party as follows:

• triumph: "Everyone shall use their intelligence given by God to creatively triumph over all shortcomings, problems and obstacles";
• heritage: Papua New Guinea was a multi-cultural country, but family values were its common heritage and a source of strength;
• empowerment: "Everyone shall pursue people empowerment policies and programmes that enable our people by giving them the mental as well as the physical capacity and strengths to make independent personal choices and decision for themselves and their families".

Founding members

Upon its launch, the party reportedly included 22 MPs, including nine Cabinet ministers. Among its founding members were Jeffery Nape (parliamentary Speaker), Benjamin Poponawa, Alphonse Moroi, Mark Maipakai (Minister for Intergovernment Relations & District Development), Tom Olga (Governor of the Western Highlands Province), James Gau, Benjamin Mul, Andrew Mald (Minister for Community Development, Religion, & Family Affairs), Philip Kikala, Mathew Poiya, Pitom Bombom, Sali Subam (Minister for Sports), Sai Beseo (Minister for Correctional Services), David Arore (Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, & Technology), Miki Kaeok, Yawa Silupa, Buka Malai, Michael Sapau (Governor of Manus Province), Ano Pala (Minister for Foreign Affairs & Immigration), Peter Humphreys and Leo Dion.

In addition to Don Polye as parliamentary leader, the party during its inaugural meeting chose Douglas Tomuriesa as party president, Bungtabu Brown as vice-president, James Kiele as secretary-general and Luke Kembo as treasurer.