"It is a concern when those in the lead are blinded by arrogance, pride and boastfulness," says Don Polye

MPs in the government, including the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, have been urged to give credit where it is due for the developments taking place around the country.

Speaking to a huge crowd in Jimi, Jiwaka province last Friday, Opposition Leader Don Pomb Polye said the former government was denied acknowledgement on the foundation work he laid for the construction of major infrastructure developments taking place across the country.

“However, I am being blessed today by the people of Jiwaka in their acknowledgement of me through their Toli-Tumi association for my humble and sincere contribution of K10-million which I provided for Kimil-Jimi road.

“This little ‘thank you’ meant a lot to me in a mountain of ‘no thank yous’ by a foolish government that rides along on the work of others to gain their own glory,” Mr Polye a told the crowd.

He outlined that the following work realized were the results of his strategies;

1) Multi-tranche financed roads under PNG Government and Asian Development Bank ;

2) Maritime wharves/ports like Lae Port, jetties navigational systems, ISPS code; implementation to secure our ports/wharves etc…under ADB/PNG government loan facility;

3) Airport upgrades like at Gurney, Nadzab, Hoskins, Jacksons and Mt Hagen to ICAO Standards etc…;

4) Transport sector reforms and establishment of National Airports Corporations to do Nadzab airport master plan development etc…;

5) Establishment of Free Trade Agreements with the European Union for PNG’s tune/fish products and;

6) Establishing investment promotion protection agreements with Japan, China and Korea etc…

7) Many other works in the high education sector and Treasury reforms.

Polye said he did not want to be thanked for what he did, adding that is what he has been mandated and ‘divinely skilled to do.’

“But it becomes a concern when those in the lead are blinded by arrogance, pride and boastfulness.

“The foolish need to learn how to give praise where it is due like the good people of Jiwaka have done,” he said.

Part of the crowd in Jiwaka Province. Image: PNG Opposition Media Unit

Part of the crowd in Jiwaka Province. Image: PNG Opposition Media Unit

Source: Press Release

Unfair and injustice development distribution in Papua New Guinea is a concern for citizens

by CHARLIE CLYDE TIKARO 

 

A K120-million ground breaking ceremony was held today in Port Moresby to start work on the multi million kina APEC House.

Minister responsible for APEC Hon Justin Tkatchenko said the building will become an iconic structure for the country, showcasing PNG to the world.

The ground work contract was awarded to GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION, company owned and operated by senior government officials.

Few weeks back, government secured a K89-million loan from World Bank to finance an uneconomical road in Hon Charles Abel’s electorate in Alotau. Maybe because Charles Abel is a key Government Minister and senior member in the PNC Party.

Back in Menyamya district, Morobe’s largest coffee producers and other fresh vegetables and fruits such as apples are still battling with the thick mud in order to reach Lae City to sell their produce and contribute to the economy of PNG.

Even Wau-Bulolo's national highway, the highway that host Hidden Valley and Waffi Gold Mines, Zenag and PNG Forest Product is worsening and in dire need for mere proper road upgrade after it was washed away by Snake River.

Is this a symptom of UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS & SERVICES in the country?

Is it difficult to secure another loan from World Bank to fix Menyamya and Wau-Bulolo road once and for all?

And besides, APEC Minister said the building will showcase PNG to the rest of the world. If I were him, I would simply rephrase that statement. It will not showcase PNG but Port Moresby only at the expense of Menyamya and Wau-Bulolo.

The real iconic structure to show the world about PNG is seen in the photo attached. Same in 2005 and remain unchanged after 11 years, 2016.

Menyama - Morobe Province 

Menyama - Morobe Province 

Menyama - Morobe Province 

Menyama - Morobe Province 

Bulolo-Wau national highway that was washed down by the Snake River

Artistic impression of the APEC Haus that will be built at the cost of 120 million Kina. 
It will host Prime Ministers and Presidents of APEC's 21 member economies in 2018.

Sports and National Events Minister Tkatchenko (second from right) , Oil Search MD, Peter Botten (far right) and two other officials doing the 'Ground Turning' for the APEC Haus.

Special Mining Lease Application submitted for the Wafi-Golpu project

by PETER KINJAP

PAPUA New Guinea's Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture has submitted an application for a Special Mining Lease (SML) with the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA).

Project Director Bryan Brailie said the lodgment sees a crucial milestone in the progressing the Wafi-Golpu Project.

“We look forward to work with the government, landowners and other stakeholders,” Mr. Braillie said.

The application follows the review earlier this year by the Board of Directors of both Newcrest Mining Limited and Harmony Gold Mining Company of a project feasibility study and pre-feasibility study.

The SML application includes a proposal for development, which incorporates the feasibility study report and supporting documents such as a national content plan, which underpins land ownership study, sets out the proposed approach to workforce and supplier development and community investments including potential employment and local business opportunities.

It is anticipated that, if developed, the project will make a substantial positive impact to Papua New Guinea’s economy at both a national and provincial level. It will be the first major large-scale resource project in the Morobe Province since the Hidden Valley mine commenced operations in 2009.

"The Landowner communities would benefit from royalty streams, compensation and community development projects which focus on skills development, local business opportunities, agribusiness, health and education. Key milestones An Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared for the Project and is expected to be lodged with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) in the near future," the statement said.

Any future development of the Project will be subject to the grant of an SML and obtaining all other necessary permits, approvals and agreements required from the Government, landowners and other stakeholders, and ultimately approval by the Board of Directors of both Newcrest and Harmony.

The Wafi-Golpu deposit is located approximately 65 kilometres south-west of Lae in the Morobe Province of PNG. Lae is the second largest city in PNG. Newcrest and Harmony each currently own 50% of the Wafi-Golpu Project through the WafiGolpu Joint Venture. The Independent State of Papua New Guinea retains the right to purchase, at a price pro-rata to the accumulated exploration expenditure, up to a 30% equity interest in the Wafi-Golpu Project, at any time before the commencement of mining. If the State chooses to take up its full 30% interest, the interest of each of Newcrest and Harmony will become 35%.

Executive team with the document for submission.

People are dying of curable diseases: A consequence of leadership failure

by SAM KOIM

I recently attended a ‘haus krai’ (funeral) of a loving mother struck down in her prime whilst seeking medical treatment overseas. In conveying my condolences to the immediate family, I posed these resounding questions to the mourners.

Why would our people, who pay a lot of taxes for their government to provide quality health care, dig further deep into their own pockets to pursue this essential service overseas when such should be provided here? Those who have the means to afford are doing so without complaining because it concerns their own lives.


But just imagine the masses who could not afford and are bereaved of their future just because of lack of medical treatment. At times, we somehow attribute the cause of death to sorcery, curse, or God just took his life explanations. We have come to a stage of tolerance, acceptance and passing the blame.

It would cost less than K100,000 to afford a simple Tuberculosis testing machine (GeneXpert –GX4 Machine), that is far less than the price of a Toyota land cruiser. I believe other live-saving medical equipment are less than K500,000. Our resource allocators seem to have a lot of money to spend on buying vehicles, funding bogus projects, even entertainment and sports etc, yet we do not have drugs and medical equipment in our hospitals and health centres. We have some of the best and well trained medical doctors but they are more often demoralized from performing their jobs when they could not save lives from curable diseases owing to the lack of these medical supplies.

In my considered view, I believe it demonstrates leadership divorced from reality –leaders who are vested with the mandate to allocate resources but are themselves untouched by the reality.

Since when was the last time you saw one of our MPs attended medical treatment at Mount Hagen General Hospital? If they had gone to Hagen Hospital, they would know the kind of treatment an average person is receiving. In fact, they don’t. When they are sick, they resort to medical treatment overseas and we the people pay for their expenses.

If the very people who would effect change are instead seeking ready-made services overseas, who else is going to do it? The untimely death of this mother is the consequence of leadership without the seeing eye to see the needs of the people they purport to lead.

Sam Koim..."It would cost less than K100,000 to afford a simple Tuberculosis testing machine (GeneXpert –GX4 Machine), that is far less than the price of a Toyota land cruiser."

Source: Facebook.

Leaders continued to mislead money as a catalyst to address issues, Parliament told.

Parliament was told that leaders continued to mislead themselves with a perception that money was a catalyst for addressing issues the resource owners had been advocating for.

Opposition Leader Don Polye today in Parliament debated it otherwise when arguing on a paper presented by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on increasing equity share for resource owners, especially in the Bougainville Copper Mine Limited.

Mr Polye has called on the Prime Minister and his government to learn about the real issues the resource owners have been fighting for.

“They never ask for money. They were talking about their environment and livelihood. Let us learn from the history and guide the future.

“Because President John Momis has come out against the equity share so are we quickly coming up with equity thing here to make him and his people happy? This is not the issue. They are talking about their economy, integral human development and livelihood,” he said.

Even if their resource ownership equity share is increased, he said, integral human development issues will still be outstanding.

“Have we delivered the MOU funds of K100 million annually to the people of Autonomous Region of Bougainville? Let the ABG run and manage its own affairs. Don’t use them like robots from Waigani. Let us talk about their MOU grands which have not been committed to them before talking about equity.

“Let us not do it for them. Let them do it themselves. I don’t see a unity among the ABG MPs in PNG Parliament and the ABG government as the Prime Minister has only resourced the MPs the latter at the expense of the ABG,” said Polye.

Meanwhile, Mr Polye said the resource owners in Hela and Western provinces have not also advocated for the release of their royalties or their equity share.

“No, they haven’t. Money is always there. It is not an issue. They have been fighting about their environment destruction. There is more to it than meets the eyes.

“If we continue to mislead ourselves with money being the solution to all the issues, later we will find out that the problems which we thought we have solved already, are still there,” he said.

He said the future leaders would learn that their leaders today had not solved the real issues but they had only created additional ones for them.

“When we strive for empowerment of our people through resource ownership, we must also address their issues customarily, environmentally and economically. This is the way forward,” he said.

Opposition Leader Don Polye.

Source: Media Release / PNG Opposition Team / 2016

PNG's forgotten backwater of Daru Hospital to receive a face-lift

THE forgotten backwater of Papua New Guinea's Daru will now receive counter funding from Australian Aid to its Daru Hospital. NAU FM reports Daru hospital has only three wards in one unit. According to Hospital CEO Sister Orpah Tugo, the Pediatrics ward, the Surgery ward and the Medical ward are all stationed in one unit with 10 beds allocated for each ward.

 Furthermore, the Gynecology ward, the Labour Ward and the Obstetrics ward share one unit again with 10 beds allocated for each ward. With the risks posed by contagious diseases and health standards to maintain, the hospital with the counter fund of Australian Aid is looking at building new wings to isolate each ward. CEO Tugo said that the hospital is in desperate need of uplift and they will also look at expanding the Operating Theatre.

Meanwhile staff housing is also being look at with plans to demolish old houses and hospital is in talks with the National Planning Office for the project.

Old referee corner in Daru town. Image: David Williams.

People living in the boat in Daru. Image: David Williams. 

Daru Hospital that will now go under renovation. Image: David Williams

Story source: NAU FM News

Photographs by David Williams on Malum Nalu's blog.

Student calls on the Government to establish a Food Quality Control Laboratory: To test food imports and exports

A PNG Master’s student studying Food Technology abroad has called on the PNG Government to be more affluent and well versed with its inspection of food quality control in importing and exporting.

Ms. Esther Paiela studying food technology (engineering) at Sardar Patel University in India has said PNG does not have a national food quality control laboratory that can test to standard foods to import and export.

“PNG is rich with natural food products. We can make new food products out of them and we can export them overseas. Its one main source of boosting our country's falling economy and a better way of creating a lot of job opportunities,” she said. It's better for the government to sit back and emphasize on such tangible development strategies to bring to fruition the vision 2050.

“The government should decide now to build a National Food Quality Control laboratory, a lot of food engineering students are stuck in those food manufacturing companies. Make use of them and they can help achieve the country's productivity goals in terms of food products,” Ms Paiela said.

“From a simple food engineer's view point, I would like to propose to the Government of the day if PNG can establish a National Food Quality Control Laboratory to work along with other existing statutory bodies to conduct quality check of imports and exports,” he said.

 She said latest speculations about Fiji's restrictions on PNG made goods especially food products is simply because PNG does not have a proper quality control by the Government. Most of the manufacturing companies operating in PNG are profit-oriented and they can at times cheat. They only do tests on very good products and keep records for later as evidences for auditing purposes.

“Countries like Fiji and other Western countries are very strict with food rules and laws. If our food products fail to meet the ISO standards, soon our food products will be rejected and we will become an unproductive country. These countries have very strict quarantine system to stringently screen goods and food products. If they find bacterial or physical or chemical contamination while doing quality analysis in their own country, they will put an end from buying PNG made food products,” she added.

Esther hails from Aipus village in Enga Province and she went to study in Anand Gujarat, India on an Indian Council of Cultural Relations Scholarship (ICCR).  

Esther Paiela

Esther Paiela

Esther Paiela

Photos: Esther Paiela/Supplied/2016.

Rural rugged and abandoned village for the last 23 years gets new road link

 ONE of the country’s rural and most rugged districts in Papua New Guinea has now received a new road access to the nearest town.  Tambul District in the Western Highlands Province has been abandoned for the last 23 years for basics government services including a road link.

The road link between Wambul and Palme villages was first built by men with spades and bush knives in 1993. Since then no machinery equipment has ever moved into the area.

Today, thanks to Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti for funding the road network to be linked up.

Local Level Government (LLG) Council president Micheal Mai said road is the most important and most vital service any government can initiate and provide to its people. He said this road is very vital one that needs to be upgraded and graveled because it will open up Lower Kaguel and will be more efficient road link in the area. “On behalf of my Mt. Giluwe LLG people I thank the Governor for Western Highlands Province a wise decision to have the road opened up with the new machine and the fuel money allocated,” he said.

The Lower Kaguel area houses Tambul Secondary School, Mt. Giluwe Secondary School, Kipiria Secondary School of Excellence, more than 20 primary schools, 22 council wards and a total population of more than 24,000 people.

WHP Governor Paias Wingti.

Governor Paias Wingti

Paias Wingti was welcomed by people from Lower Kaguel with traditional dances at Kiripia.

Giluwe LLG Council Present Micheal Mai.

Road linking Wanbul and Palme villages.

The new road being upgraded.

Looking to the Lower Kaguel Valley.

The New Road.

The New Road.