Dash 8 cleared

source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

AIRLINES PNG Dash 8 aircraft have returned to service but on strict

conditions.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) PNG yesterday cleared the 11 aircraft following preliminary findings of the investigations into the catastrophic Dash 8 crash of Oct 13 in Madang in which 28 out of 32 people on board perished.

The directive required more frequent inspections and test on the propeller governor and power lever systems and, within 120 days, the installation of components that will ensure a failure that occurred in Madang is not repeated.
The new parts will cost US$20,000 per aircraft and some 120 man hours to install in each aircraft.
As more information becomes available, CASA (Australia), which had been monitoring the investigations in PNG with interest, might apply the same airworthiness directive to include Australian operators of Dash 8.
APNG announced it had already placed orders for the parts with Bombardier of Canada.
Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said CASA’s decision was made in consultation with the aircraft manufacturer, Canadian authorities and the accident investigation commission.
Ruing said the CASA directive now required all Dash 8 operators, inclu­ding Air Niugini, to comply.
There are presently 21 Dash 8 aircraft operating in PNG owned mostly by APNG and Air Niugini.
While a preliminary investigation report has not been made available, it is understood the airworthiness directive affected Dash 8 series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft operating in PNG.
It is understood that a component failure on the aircraft had caused the propellers to go too fast resulting in both engines failing.
This, initially, absolved Airlines PNG of any fault mechanical or human error.
Airlines PNG said yesterday its grounded fleet had undergone extensive maintenance checks and would resume both charter and passenger ope­rations today.
“Airlines PNG have been very cooperative with the authority to make the necessary safety changes to their operations in order for the authority to allow the return of their Dash 8 fleet to service,” Ruing said.
“This return-to-service will be in a progressive manner over the next two weeks and has some imposed conditions pertaining to operational procedures and training.”
Ruing said these were the imme­diate steps being taken in the interests of aviation safety, however, further safety action could be required as more information became available.
The authority, assisted by CASA Australia, would continue to monitor the safety performance of the airline through audits and surveillance.
Airlines PNG chairman Simon Wild said: “We thank the safety authorities for their tireless efforts which have confirmed the safety of our aircraft and systems.
“We have always been confident that the integrity of our safety practices would be confirmed by rigorous scrutiny.”
“While a full investigation is continuing, preliminary evidence pointed to a component failure through no fault of the airline which resulted in
the loss of power to both engines,
leaving the flight crew with no alternatives but to attempt an emergency landing.
“In accordance with recommendations from the safety authorities, steps have been taken to ensure such failure did not take place on any of our aircraft, and we understand that all other Dash 8 operators in PNG are implementing the same safeguards,” Wild said.

Source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

I AM deeply concerned at the attempt by the government to restrict the democratic freedom of the East Sepik people.
The democratic and legally-elected East Sepik provincial government, as an entity, ought to be allowed to exercise its democratic constitutional rights through the courts.
Even though I represent the opposing view in East Sepik politics, my concern is growing daily with the erosion of democracy by the ruling class in Waigani.
Are we a democratic country or not?
This is the key question.
If we are, then all the tenets of democracy ought to be exercised by all the people of this land regardless of whether they are in power or not.
Dissent is an essential part of the democratic process.
Allowing all sectors of the community the right to disagree with the government of the day are normal occurrences in a democracy.
Without the avenue for peaceful dissent, people will then take up arms to dissent.
It is a safety valve designed to ensure the in­tegrity of democratic systems.
Democracy is essentially about majority rule while ensuring civil and political rights for everyone, including criminals.
Like it or not, this is the system our forebears decided we ought to have in 1975.
If we want to change the system, then the right place to do it is to take it to the people in a referendum.
If the people of PNG choose to have a communist or socialist system of government, then we can throw out the Constitution and start all over again.
Until that day, we must respect the Constitution that we all agreed to at Independence.
This is essential if we are to maintain our unity.Allan Bird
Wewak

Firm puts out quiz product

Source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

By STEPHANIE BAWO
A LOCAL company has introduced a new and alternative learning product for students and people in Papua New Guinea.
During the launching of the Think Tank Quiz programme yesterday in Port Moresby, company director John Kama said the product was a breakthrough in new and alternative learning outside schools that involved school children and adults.
He said with the change in time and development, children were losing interest in the kind of lessons been presented in the classroom. So he developed this concept of quizzing or debating using computer technology.
Kama said its intention was to educate and improve a person’s cognitive development in a fun and entertaining way by quizzing their general knowledge while rewarding them financially.
He said learning did not stop when one left school but was life-long.
And with the introduction of the product he believes it would benefit lives by way of transforming what they had learnt into producing results for them in whatever they did.
Kama said the quiz product was the first of its kind in the country and was specially intended to support the literacy programmes of schools.
The Think Tank Quiz programme is similar to Channel Nine’s “Who wants to be a millionaire” show with three categories for each level of education from primary for Grades 1 to 8, secondary for Grades 9 to 12 and tertiary for higher education students and adults.
Assistant secretary in the curriculum and assessment division of the Education Department Dr Eliakim Apelis said it addressed some areas of universal basic education by providing basic and quality education for children.
He said it was good to see people who had gained education and were working overseas come back and be agents of change.
Port Moresby Grammar School Grade 11 student Shimona Ipah said the product was a brilliant idea that provided an alternative source of learning she could engage in during her free time

Union boss emphasises on minimum wage rates

Source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PUBLIC Employees Association president Michael Malabag says the government should ensure private companies comply with the minimum wages rates.
Malabag, who was elected unopposed for a fourth term as president, said it was one of his priorities.
Malabag, who is also president of the Trade Union Congress, said many security officers, supermarket cashiers and house maids were being paid rates below the minimum wage requirements.
“The national government must institute an investigation into these companies, many of which are not paying the minimum wage as approved by government two years ago.”
He said the companies must be kicked out of the country if they failed to pay the minimum wage rates.
He threatened class action against the companies if nothing was done to improve the wages of workers.
Although the Electoral Commission’s returning officer has yet to make a declaration, the president’s post was not contested, with Malabag retaining the top public service union post.
“My other priority is to ensure that our fight for the K250 housing allowance bears fruit and public servants can benefit from it instead of the lousy K7.50 a fortnight housing allowance.”
He said the matter was now before Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Tribunal, which would convene in two weeks to address the issue.
Malabag said the other outstanding issue was the taxation component on retirement benefits of public servants, which he wanted to reduce from 35% to around 15%.
He said the association had been pushing good governance issues and was supporting the government’s public sector development programme to promote good governance in the public service.
He welcomed on board new general-secretary Ronald Silovo, who he said, had vast experience in industrial relations issues and would be working to drive major issues affecting the public service.

Experts face ID problems

Source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

FORENSIC experts who left Madang last weekend have said not all of the remaining 27 victims of the fatal air crash of Oct 13 will be identified.
This was the revelation received yesterday from Modilon General Hospital director of medical services Dr Billy Selve.
He said the ante-mortem and post-mortem works already undertaken with added personal information from relatives were collated but difficulties in obtaining dental and other medical records would make positive identification difficult.
A morgue attendant, Boston Jack, who assisted the Australian team, said poor dental and medical filing records of most public hospitals throughout the country made all efforts of piecing together vital information during the post-mortem hard.
Selve said the experts found it difficult in piecing missing limbs or teeth to skulls without the primary identification which included the dental records, DNA or fingerprints and medical history papers.
“These are inconclusive results. None that I spoke to had anything obvious as to what belonged to whom.
“We have very bad dental records in the country in terms of who had an extraction or filling done and at what hospital. Calling them for verification is another headache when all you end up with is a medical card that says they came in with only flu or fever,” he said.
Another difficulty had been the financial burden on relatives paying their own way into Madang from other centres.

Top cop warns criminals

Source: Highlands Region News, Post Courier, Thursday 27 October, 2011
By NEVILLE TOGAREWA

ENGA provincial police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari has issued a strong warning to criminals and prison escapees who are on the run to surrender to police or local authorities or they will be hunted down and brought before the courts to answer for their crimes.
He was commenting yesterday after his men conducted an early morning raid and arrested a councillor suspected of committing murder.
The police arrested Buka Maken, 25-30 years old, of Yaramanda village and councillor of Takos Ward in the Kompiam Ambum district of Enga province.
“The deceased, Pyari Angale, was building a grand stand for Member for Kompian Ambum John Pundari at Yaramanda village when the suspect (Maken) shot him with a high-powered gun at close range, killing him instantly on July 13 this year,” Supt Lakari told the Post-Courier.
He said the suspect was on the run for about three months until the police arrested him this week.
“The suspect and his wife were asleep in their house when my men woke him up and apprehended him, took him to Wabag police station where he was formally arrested and charged for the wilful murder of Pyari Angale, a young men also from Yaramanda village,” Supt Lakari said.
“The police refused bail, locked him up at Wabag police cell and brought him before the District Court.
“The court refused him bail and remanded him in custody at Baisu jail until he appears for mention at a date to be fixed.
“On behalf of my colleagues (PPCs) in the Highlands region, I am warning all the criminals who are on the run, including those who have escaped from custody, to surrender to the police or local authorities.
“I don’t have any figures about criminals who have committed serious offences like rape, murder and grievous assaults – and they include prison escapees – who are still at large.
“Know that the long arm of the law will catch up with you eventually. Your days are numbered and the police will get you wherever you may be.”

Politicians exerting more pressure on budgets

Source: The National, 27th October 2011

 

THE Department of Finance and Treasury is often forced to look outside of the budget to meet unspecified political projects, a forum on budget and finance was told yesterday.
A treasury manager told the Port Moresby forum at
Hideaway Hotel that, often, this added stress and
pressure on department workers.
Assistant secretary, social sector of the budget division, Ruth Veapi attributed this to political decisions made to expend money outside of the budget.
The forum was organised by the Institute of National Affairs.
Veapi advised public servants attending the forum to be prudent in their own budget estimates and to ensure their political bosses were educated on budget processes and the legal requirements under the Public Finances Management Act.
With the 2012 budget due in two weeks, Finance and Treasury, in conjunction with the INA, is staging the forum on “Adapting to change: A review of the government financial controls in PNG”.
Participants would discuss at length the poor response in complying with audit standards, the breaching of financial accounting requirements and the need for greater enforcement.
This year, the total national budget was K9.5 billion. Of this:
lK2.2 billion was for servicing debt. About a quarter of the budget was used on interest and amortisation of loans;
lK2.1 billion was for the development budget; and
lK5.2 billion was for recurrent expenses in the 48 national departments and 36 statutory bodies.
A supplementary budget of K781.8 million was handed down last month, derived mainly from increased commodity prices. Of this, K665.8 million was new appropriation to fund free education while K116 million was to settle the various memorandum of agreements.
Veapi also stressed on the need to “engage ministers earlier in the budget process” and “the Planning Department throughout the budget”.
“Development and re­-
current budgets need closer alignment to ensure recurrent costs of development projects can be met,” she said.
It was also revealed that although the National Planning and Finance departments were located inside Vulupindi Haus at Waigani, communication between staff of the two departments had been non-existent, often resulting in government funds ending up in the wrong hands

Sir Michael failed to comply with orders

Source: Post Courier, Thursday October 27, 2011By JOSHUA ARLO
Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare failed to fully comply with orders of the five-man Supreme Court to provide medical records while hospitalised at Raffles Hospital in Singapore.
This is according to senior judge Justice Bernard Sakora who stated yesterday in court that since the issue of Sir Michael being of unsound mind “is still live”, the records would go to demonstrate whether this issue can be proved.
Justice Sakora was also concerned that in light of this fact, in his view, Sir Michael should be accorded another opportunity to have these records produced. He said the first time this order for production was made, the East Sepik Provincial Government (referrer) was directed to obtain them.
However, since such records are of personal nature, the hospital did not release them, Justice Sakroa said.
He pointed out that when Sir Michael joined the special reference by the referrer, he was ordered to have them produced, so as to establish the issue of unsound mind at the evidentiary hearing conducted by single Supreme Court trial judge, Justice David Cannings.
“If the courts cannot properly impose its own orders, then all is lost. We (the court) should not make orders in the first place,” Justice Sakora said.
He said orders of the court, whether irregular, should be complied with otherwise it would be contemptuous if there is failure, unless these orders are properly set aside.
Justice Sakora said the records were tied in with the issue of unsoundness of mind because they relate to the initial questions posed by the referrer as to whether there was a vacancy in the Prime Minister’s office as at August 2, and the reason for that vacancy. He said the mental capability to conduct or perform affairs of the state as Prime Minister are depended on these records as they will shed light to the real meaning of being ‘unsound’

Councillor appears in court for murder after

Source: The National, 26th October 2011

By JAMES APA GUMUNO

A VILLAGE councillor has appeared in court charged with murder.
Takawas ward councillor Buka Maken, from Yaramanda village, in Ambum district, Enga, was arrested during an early morning raid conducted jointly by officers from Ambum and Wabag on Monday.
Maken had been on the run for three months after allegedly shooting dead Puari Angale on July 12 at Yaramanda village, Ambum.
Provincial police commander Martin Lakari said after an appeal in The National last Wednesday for people to provide information on Maken’s whereabouts, an informant called and told him where Maken had been hiding.
Lakari said that on Sunday night, he mobilised his officers and during the early hours of Monday morning, they travelled to Yaramanda village, surrounded the house where Maken and his wife were sleeping and arrested him.
He said Maken did not resist arrest. No weapons were found on him.
He said Maken appeared before the Wabag district court yesterday morning for mention and was denied bail.
Maken was on remand at Baisu jail, Western Highlands Province.
Lakari said other suspects or escapees still at large in the province would be arrested in a similar manner if they did not surrender.
He appealed to people in the province not to harbour known suspects or escapees.
He said if they knew of anyone hiding from police they should report them.
Lakari said the informant from Ambum had set a good example for people to follow

Roads to drive agriculture

Source: The National, 26th October 2011

By BOSORINA ROBBY

NO roads, no agriculture – were the words Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sir Puka Temu said before the signing of a grant agreement
of US$1.7 million (K3.7 million) between the World Bank and the government.
It would be used to improve the resilience of PNG to the impact of natural disasters and climate change on the most vulnerable sectors of the economy, in this case the agriculture and transport sector.
Yesterday was the signing of the grant for the agriculture sector with the transport sector next month.
It will be implemented by the Office of Climate Change in association with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL).
The DAL would be looking at three of the four components of the agreement which are:
l    Analysis of climate vulnerability and disaster risks in the agriculture sector including commodity specific studies;
l    Performance of a feasibility study of agriculture risk insurance for smallholder farmers; and
l    Provision of small grants for pilot initiatives.
Sir Puka said the project would bring hope to the many subsistence farmers who are faced with these problems every day.
“Nobody can predict when there would be bad weather that can destroy gardens. Climate change is real and poses real risks and PNG is very exposed to natural disasters.
“This will give the little people a lot of hope and any investments in agriculture must be long-term.
“I know this will end in 2015, but I want to request that this project never ends. It must continue till it becomes embedded into our own national programmes,” he said.
Sir Puka said agriculture would not be able to work alone as it needed a good road network, electricity, water and communications to thrive.
World Bank country manager Laura Bailey said because 36% of the economy came from agriculture, the focus now was on the ability of the country to respond to the challenge of addressing risks posed by the weather.