News 11.2011
New Poll ! - Neue Umfrage ! - Nouveau sondage ! To all Bougainville Copper shareholders: At which price would you sell your BCL shares? China is supposed to increase its copper demand UP 79 percent until 2015, Bloomberg reported recently. Since many years Chinese companies are investing abroad to meet this future demand: Chinalco, Tongling Non Ferrous Metals and others are searching for new opportunities worldwide. A take-over of Bougainville Copper might be a highly interesting one: Already in July this year a Chinese delegation visited the Panguna mine site. As Chinese investments in Bougainville are supported by ABG President John Momis, it’s probable that a take-over or a merger for Bougainville Copper Limited is in preparation. The ESBC welcomes any Chinese engagement in Bougainville. Therefore we would like to know which proposed share price would meet your expectations. The more shareholders will vote, the better will be the overview on the share price expectations. Every participant can vote only once, but will be able to see the results at all time! Click here and vote ! |
30.11.2011
Source: The National
O’Neill says mining leases extended
THE mining lease agreement for Bougainville expired last Friday but the mining lease agreement automatically extends for another 21 days as per the Mining Act, parliament has been told.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said this when responding to a series of questions by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.
Parkop asked if the government was going to review the mining release agreement that expired last Friday.
He said many people in Papua New Guinea and Bougainvilleans had gone through hard times and he asked why there should not be any review.
He asked if there was any moratorium in place for any further exploration in any other part of the autonomous region.
He asked if a review could be done with a year-to-year lease agreement.
O’Neill said there would not be any review because of an automatic 21-year extension clause under the Bougainville agreement.
He said the Bougainville mining agreement did not cater for any review nor did it allow the government to cancel it.
He said the government would be consulting with the people and the ABG to find a solution to review the 21-year automatic extension.
30.11.2011
Source: Australia Network News
Bougainville signs final peace agreement
Warring factions in the south of Papua New Guinea's autonomous Bougainville province have signed an historic peace agreement at a reconciliation ceremony in the village of Mogoroi.
The Konnou Constituency was the last part of the island to undertake reconciliation after the nation's last civil war in 1990.
The deal will allow government services to return to the area.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis says while they facilitated the agreement, it was the warring factions who initiated it.
"It's a very clear demonstration that all the factions will lay down arms to work to find true reconciliation and peace," Mr Momis said.
"It will take some time for us to work out just exactly what we need to do to engage them in a social economic program."
30.11.2011
Source: The National
Chan: Govt addressing mineral ownership
MINING Minister Byron Chan yesterday took a cautious approach to address the sensitive “mineral ownership” issue at the opening of a four-day mining and petroleum seminar in Port Moresby yesterday.
“The government is very mindful of the sensitivity and expectations surrounding the issue of mineral ownership,” Chan said
“The government is trying to address the issue through the development of an effective and tangible benefit distribution mechanism that will give greater participation to our people in the development and exploitation of our mineral resources within the constitutional directive to ensure equal and fair distribution to all citizens of PNG in accordance with the laws and policy priorities,” he said.
Speaking after Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s opening address, Chan said the government was “well aware” that the real issue was accountability and transparency in the use and application of mine- derived benefits by provincial governments and landowners and the government’s inability to implement service delivery to affected areas as well as capacity issues among stakeholders.
He said in his short time as the mining minister, he had realised that the government’s state teams in their respective agencies had “always upheld the constitution” regardless of the challenges that faced them.
He said the constitution called for “wise use to be made of our natural resources” and “equal distribution of wealth to all our people”.
Consistent with the Constitution, the Mining Act 1992 declared exploration and mining to be public purposes for a reason that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society that has proper regard for the rights and dignity of mankind and that the discovery, appraisal, development and exploitation of minerals to be in the national interest.
“These are the guiding principles that require us to ensure the distribution of wealth is shared amongst our people, and not centred on one particular area to the exclusion of all others.”
30.11.2011
Source: The National
O’Neill: Mining, oil drive economy
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday acknowledged that PNG’s mining and petroleum sector has been the most “aggressive driver of our nation’s good economic fortunes for almost a decade”.
Speaking at the opening of the four-day mining and petroleum conference in Port Moresby’s Gateway Hotel yesterday, he said his government took note of the sector’s contribution to “stabilising and growing our economy since the economic melt-down of the 1990s.
“Indeed the mining and petroleum sector continues to enjoy exciting new discoveries and developments. We support and share in the excitement.
“Our government expects that the strong performance in the sector will prevail over the next decade and beyond,” he said.
O’Neill said his government would not take a confrontational approach to have its way against resource developers and make specific mention of his support for all the LNG projects being developed including the US$15 billion PNG LNG project.
Horizon Papua will soon start construction work on its gas stripping project in the Stanley gas fields near Ok Tedi mine.
Talisman Energy and its partners, including Kina Petroleum, were also on the verge going into production at the Ketu and Elevala gas fields.
InterOil Corp was making steady progress in the Elk/Antelope gas fields with O’Neill’s support despite reservations from Minister William Duma and his departmental head Rendle Rimua and the state-owned Petromin Holdings Ltd.
At a press conference, O’Neill gave his undivided support for the InterOil Gulf LNG project even in its fragmented form of gas stripping that involved an LNG plant and a floating LNG, instead of a single large scale project as previously determined under an agreement signed between the State and InterOil in December 2009.
He indicated that the government would rescind previous NEC decisions and allow InterOil to proceed with its re-scoped and phased project.
O’Neill said the Gulf province was one of the least developed and neglected provinces in the country for a long time.
The province had produced some well-educated manpower for the country and it was only fair that the province should host the US$6 billion project with the support of Gulf Governor Havila Kavo, he said.
30.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Foreign businesses welcome: Momis
By JOYCE TOHUI
BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis said that Bougainville will allow foreigners to do business on Bougainville, on Bougainville’s terms.
Mr Momis said that is why his government emphasises strongly on joint venture (JV) business and discourages stand alone businesses by foreigners.
‘’Since the crisis, Bougainville businesses were buying goods from wholesalers in Papua New Guinea and these companies have made a lot of money but they have never shared any equity to benefit the people,’’ Mr Momis said. He said that is why the ABG encouraged the people of Bougainville to go into JV businesses and benefit from these activities.
30.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Drivers of the economy
By ESTELLA CHEUNG
PAPUA New Guinea’s mining and petroleum sector has been the most aggressive driver of the nation’s good economic fortunes for almost a decade.
In his opening address at the 2011 Mining and Petroleum seminar yesterday at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the government acknowledges the sector’s contribution to stabilising and growing the economy since the economic melt-down of the 1990s.
“With such a promising outlook and the expectation of huge inflows of revenue to the State’s coffers in the next 10 to 15 years, from new mining ventures and from LNG projects, our government is moving decisively to establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” Mr O’Neill said.
“The thinking behind the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is to absorb these unprecedented revenue windfalls and thereby palming off inflationary pressures,” he said.
“Of course we want to ensure the nation has savings to call upon for urgent development needs including key infrastructure and meeting budget they arise in the future,” Mr O’Neill said.
“When we look back to the years when we had the Bougainville Mine, Misima Mine, Porgera and even Ok Tedi, we look at the mismanagement of the wealth that was created by these mines,” he said.
“The funds or the revenue that we had has been squandered to the effect that the benefit of that wealth is not shown in the communities and the services that Government provides throughout the country,” he stressed.
“We believe very strongly that if we do not protect the wealth that has been created by this industry by a structure like the Sovereign Wealth Fund, I think we will again squander the opportunity that these projects are presenting to the country,” Mr O’Neill said.
He said public consultations were underway to gauge views of the SWF and former Prime Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu has already been ear-marked to chair the fund.
“Legislation for establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund will be put through Parliament next week,” he said.
“I am very pleased to say that next week; parliament will sit down and introduce the legislation. I am expecting the support of all members of Parliament because this is crucial for the country. We cannot afford to play politics with it,” he said.
The Mining Seminar is held on November 29-30 and the Petroleum Seminar will be held on December 1-2.
The Mining seminar will also give participants the opportunity to learn more about new mines such as the Hidden valley and Ramu mines, and the world’s first deep sea mine, Solwara1.
The Petroleum seminar will provide updates to current activities in the petroleum sector such as the PNG LNG Project and other LNG developments.
‘Honour K5m vow’
By JOYCE TOHUI
CHARIMAN of the Board of Governors of Saint Mary’s Asitavi High School on Bougainville, Joe Pais is calling on the Papua New Guinea National Government to honour the commitment of K5 million made to the school by the former Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal when he visited the School in May this year.
Mr Pais said that the K5 million pledge was made by Mr Abal after visiting the school and seeing firsthand the deteriorating state of the school buildings which include classrooms and dormitories. Mr Abal was accompanied by Bougainville Affairs Minister then and the regional member for Bougainville.
Mr Pais said that the school’s Board met last week and discussed the need to follow up this commitment because the change of government could change this commitment. The chairman also called on Bougainville MPs Fidelis Sermoso, Jimmy Miringtoro and Steven Kama to follow up this commitment.
30.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
5000 to Witness South Bougainville Reconciliation
ONE GOVERNMENT FOR BOUGAINVILLE
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG President Chief JOHN MOMIS says that Bougainville will not move forward unless the people unite and work together under one government.
He was speaking at the Konnou Ceasefire ceremony at Mogoroi village in Buin yesterday.
MR. MOMIS said that since he was elected as the ABG President he has been advocating unity in diversity by all Bougainvilleans.
MR. MOMIS was responding to calls by the Chairman of the Konnou Peace Committee, CHRIS MOTA who wanted the ABG and Mekamui to dissolve their differences and form just one government instead of confusion the people.
MR. MOTA in his welcome speech said that the situation in Konnou deteriorated because the people were divided into following two governments of ABG and the Mekamui controlled from Tonu in Siwai.
The ABG President also thanked the people of Konnou for working together and organizing the ceremony without assistance from the government.
More than Five thousand people braved the rain to witness the ceremony.
Crowd at the ceremony
Siwai group from Monoitu carried a live Pig to the ceremony with the group carrying it on a uprooted palm tree with its roots and leaves intact.
Siwai group presenting a pig
29.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Konnou Ceasefire
By Aloysius Laukai
The Konnou Ceasefire ceremony at Mogoroi village in Buin went well without problems and by the end of the day alot of people who had doubts and mixed feelings on the ceremony went home satisfied that the peace could last.
The moving ceremony had all factions of the conflict stand in line and shook hands with the former enemies looking at their eyes and saying sorry to each other.
We will post more pics and stories on this historical event that could create peace and total normalcy for Bougainville.
Pictured below are Damian Koike, President John Momis and UNDP Boss on Bougainville Anthony Agyenta
Damian Koike signs ceasefire aggreement
Fighters shaking hands
procession of fighters
Khaur Group
Linus Konokung
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Momis in epic return to Panguna
By GORETHY KENNETH
BOUGAINVILLE’S president John Momis will now go back to Panguna 21 years after his abduction in 1990 by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
President Momis’ visit to Panguna will be historical as he has never stepped on Panguna soil since his abduction by the late Francis Ona’s commandos from Tinputz in the mid 1990s.
He was taken hostage to Guava and kept there in captivity before being released some months later. The story of Mr Momis becoming a Prisoner of War (PoW) in Guava village is such that a reconciliation is still pending.
He was kept a prisoner for almost six months in Panguna by the late Ona and his men. One of Bougainville’s instrumental leaders (named) was handed a gun to kill Momis but he let him escape after several pleas by Mr Momis.
Mr Momis was a priest at that time and to date his “legs” have never set foot in Panguna (Read story in the Weekend Courier).
Mr Momis also, had never visited Panguna even when he was the Regional Member for Bougainville in the National Parliament. He is now going back there early next month to see his people and to further negotiations for the development of Bougainville, because that is where the heart of the Panguna Mine lies.
The Bougainville administration is now in preparation to facilitate his visit to Panguna tentatively before the JSB meeting in Buka.
The JSB will be held on December 5.
The people of central Bougainville specifically Panguna and Guava have invited Mr Momis to visit the place and address his people in that part of the world.
The Panguna management consultative committee meeting held recently in Buka was briefed of the planned visit by the president.
“This is a long overdue matter that must take place as soon as practically possible,” the meeting was told.
“At this meeting an official invitation was extended to President Momis and he accepted and preparations will now begin by PMCC stakeholders in consultations with ABG Administration officials to make this event a reality.”
On the same note, Bougainville Copper Limited chief executive Paul Coleman is now being invited officially by the PMCC and specifically the people of Panguna to visit the area where the giant mine pit lies idle. Mr Coleman’s visit will happen after Momis’ official trip. Mr Coleman already visited Panguna but that was on an invitation by those who were involved in the Panguna Scrap Metal operations, which BCL has been facilitating.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Two parts on BCA review
THE Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) review process will take on two phases as explained by the legal brains behind the planning.
Autonomous Bougainville Government legal chief executive officer and Tony Reagan, the Australian legal adviser in a recent meeting on the review of the BCA, explained that phase 1 would include preparation now until 2013 and this would involve the following:
* Incorporation of individual Lease area associations and the umbrella landowner association;
* Conflict resolution work in central and south Bougainville;
* Conduct of baseline studies on Environmental, social, health and other baseline studies in the Mine Lease areas;
* Public Awareness throughout the region and development of appropriate capacity and negotiation position by each party including a joint position by the ABG and Panguna Landowners Association and;
* Reaching an agreed process for conduct off negotiations and conclusion of agreement.
Phase two (2) will include Conduct of Review and negotiations which will also include:
* Each party to be represented by a negotiating team, led by an appropriately authorized lead negotiator;
* ABG/PLA joint negotiating team;
* Each team to be supported by appropriate technical advice;
* Separate negotiation tables to deal with environment, social, and the financial aspects of negotiations.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Momis lauds PM O’Neill
BOUGAINVILLE president John Momis last week thanked PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for his decision not to approve the renewal of the Special Mining Lease (SML) held by Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) in Panguna for the last 42 years.
He said that through the Peace Agreement and through the Constitutional arrangements and the Strategic Framework on the Drawdown of Mining Powers and Functions, the PNG government would not exercise mining powers and functions on Bougainville.
This he said meant that the National Government would not exercise powers in relation to any mining related issues including powers and functions that relate to the BCA and the re-negotiation of this agreement.
“While my Government has undertaken considerable work in consultation with landowners and the National Government in preparation of the BCA re-negotiation, I am happy to hear of reports that the Prime Minister has agreed not to renew the Special Mining Lease held by BCL, but to consult with the ABG on issues concerning mining matters on Bougainville,” he said.
Mr Momis added that the ABG and the Panguna Management Consultative Committee had agreed to re-negotiate the Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) with BCL, the National Government and any other interested developer. “The ABG has established a steering group to undertake preparatory programmes in relation to the re-negotiation of the BCA,” he said.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Technical trainers in ratings conference
By ALEX MUNME
TWENTY-eight vocational education training or TVET technical officers throughout the country attended a National Rating Conference held at the Kuri Village Resort Hotel last week in Buka, Autonomous region of Bougainville.
The week long annual conference normally held in November each year was attended by technical officers from PNGTA, PNGTSC, regional advisers and inspectors throughout the nation. Among them was Deputy Secretary for TES Damien Rapise, Assistant Secretary for TVET Jayasundara Banda and Teachers Savings Commission NGI Regional Adviser Anthony Tsora.
During the conference, 225 teacher’s performance records from technical colleges, business colleges and vocational training colleges were evaluated, assessed and rated.
The national rating was done in order to maintain the highest level of quality teachers in all technical, business and vocational schools in the country.
After the ratings, teachers either get promoted or otherwise undergo training to meet the required standard. The conference ended on Friday with a field trip to Tinputz to talk to the people on converting Tinputz Specialized Training Centre to Bougainville Technical College.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Peace assured for NEC meet
By ALEX MUNME
THE Teachers Service Commission Regional Adviser to NGI Anthony Tsora while appealing to the National Government not to move the coming NEC meeting scheduled for January next year from Arawa to Kavieng has assured that there will be peace during the meeting.
Mr Tsora said during his involvement with the people in the peace signings and the restoration of education in Bougainville particularly the people of Arawa and Panguna, he saw them as being genuine.
He also added that security would not be a problem as the people were already looking forward to the meeting.
He said the meeting would be a boost to the Education Department of Bougainville and the Bougainville Administration and the change in its venue would be a slap in the face for them.
He said K6million marked for the meeting was reasonable.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the new Education Board for taking office at the same time urged them to fully utilise the Autonomy of education in Bougainville.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Haku school rep shows ire over funds
By Fabian Gatana
VICE Chairman of Haku High School in Bougainville, Jan Tenevi expressed his disappointment on the amount of funding allocated for the school in the ABG’s supplementary budget.
He said the amount of funding earmarked for the school was not what they had expected and said that this would force the school to not enrol a second batch of grade nine students next year.
He said currently the school was occupying a four-in-one classroom borrowed from a nearby primary school to cater for its first intake of grade nine students.
He said financially the school was struggling to operate and the amount allocated to the school in was just another slap in the face.
He said the school had been struggling since classes commenced in the beginning of the year without any government assistance.
He said a submission had been presented to the ABG earlier this year for funding to build new classrooms, an administration building and ablution blocks and when approved were promised that it would be included in the supplementary budget but the money allocated was not what they had hoped for. The school will be celebrating its first year in operation on Thursday with a little gathering for staff and students.
29.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Dealer urges honesty
A YOUNG copra producer from Tinputz, North Bougainville is appealing to all copra farmers and dealers to work together with honesty, truth and with real trust to ensure copra quality is maintained to avoid sudden drop in its current increasing price.
The youth who requested anonymity said the past selfish actions by some unthoughtful farmers who added foreign matter and water to increase weight must not be practised this time. He said North Bougainvilleans depended entirely on copra for their daily living after the cocoa pod borer destroyed cocoa in their area. He said those producing and buying copra should do so properly to maintain quality. He said farmers wanted to make money overnight by drying copra too quickly with temporary copra dryers made of leaves and twigs which was not right.
29.11.2011
Source: The National
State ‘recovers’ K100m
By ELIAS LARI
MORE than K100 million belonging to the state has been recovered by the operation Task Force Sweep and is now in the government account.
These funds have been misused by politicians, public servants, government department and companies operating in the country.
Minister for Trade Commerce and Industry Charles Abel revealed this last Friday in Mt Hagen at the launching of the Western Highlands cooperative society.
Abel said this was what the government was trying to do in order to get rid of corruption.
He said the task force had done a very good job to recover public funds diverted into wrong use and was also punishing people involved.
“Thieves need to go to jail and whatever that belongs to state and the people must be recovered and returned to them,” Abel said.
He said now that the money had been recovered many people would be arrested for the misuse of public funds.
He said the government was making sure that public funds were put into good use for the people to benefit from.
Abel did not reveal where the money was recovered from.
28.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Militant rehab a priority in south Bougainville says president
The President of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says rehabilitation of former militants in the Konnou area is a priority.
John Momis says today’s signing of the Konnou Agreement, at the village of Mogoroi, marks the first truce between warring factions in the Konnou constituency.
The region has been shut off from government services for years because of fighting and criminal activities, partly blamed on groups led by Damian Koike, who will sign the agreement in Mogoroi.
President Momis says the fighting has gone on for a long time and the young men involved have been traumatised.
“Number one: trauma counselling. They need to go through a process of being counselled, rehabilitating them, maybe putting them through some kind of training and giving them assistance to be engaged in gainful socio-economic activities.”
President John Momis says the Bougainville government will be asking donors and the Papua New Guinea government for the necessary funding.
28.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
KONNOU CEASEFIRE
By Aloysius Laukai
The people of Konnou are preparing for the long awaited Ceasefire scheduled for 9am tommorrow Tuesday November 29th,2011.
This afternoon officials from the ABG including the ABG President Chief JOHN MOMIS and the Chief Administrator Lawrence Dising and ABG Ministers left Buka for Buin to witness the ceremony tomorrow.
The ceremony will be held at MOGOROI village which is the home of MR. DAMIAN KOIKE.
28.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville truce comes after frightening for local women - advocate
A male advocate for the Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency in Bougainville says women in the area where a truce is to be signed have spent months living in fear.
The Konnou Agreement, to be signed tomorrow in the village of Mogoroi, marks the first truce between warring factions in the Konnou constituency of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province.
The signing will include Mogoroi based militant leader, Damian Koike, who has led a faction that’s been accused of rampant criminality in the district.
Leitana Nehan’s Francis Semoso says the violence has resulted in many women in the area fleeing their villages.
“When people were fighting, the factions, the soldiers actually went into other villages, in broad daylight they were actually shooting, sometimes they would lkill people while people were watching. That was two or three months ago, four months ago.”
Francis Semoso says he’s heard that over the past few months the fighting also closed down some schools.
28.11.2011
Source: European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre
Earthquake on Bougainville
Magnitude M 4.7
Region BOUGAINVILLE REGION, P.N.G.
Date time 2011-11-28 01:24:53.0 UTC
Location 5.69 S ; 154.87 E
Depth 146 km
Distances 946 km NE Port moresby (pop 283,733 ; local time 11:24:53.7 2011-11-28)
97 km NW Arawa (pop 40,266 ; local time 11:24:53.7 2011-11-28)
93 km NW Panguna (pop 2,916 ; local time 11:24:53.7 2011-11-28)
28.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
ABG told to spend K100m
THE National Government has directed that the Bougainville Government to spend K100 million of the K500 million allocated for impact projects in the region on a major infrastructure development program.
Bougainville leaders spent last week in Port Moresby in followup meetings with Waigani bureaucrats to discuss and come up with plans and recommendations for the National Government on how they will use the first K100 million.
The major issue at hand is the road infrastructure program. The allocation was going to come out of the National Government’s 2012 Budget that was supposed to be handed down tomorrow (Tuesday). Last Friday, Parliament was adjourned to December 6, now posing a question of whether this money is going to be appropriated this year.
ABG and National Government leaders also met to discuss further the agenda for the Joint Supervisory Body meeting that is going to be held in Buka on December 5.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is expected to lead the National Government team while ABG President John Momis will lead his ABG team and wait in Buka for the the talks.
This is the most powerful body that makes decisions and recommendations on the way forward for Bougainville taking into account the Bougainville Peace Agreement and its Constitution.
Issues at hand to discuss on JSB would be the referendum, the drawdown of powers, weapons disposal, Panguna Mine and other matters of concern by both Governments.
28.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville Konnou agreement to be signed in ritual ceremony
The President of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says he expects tomorrow’s signing of the Konnou Agreement to follow ceremonial ritual.
John Momis says the signing, at the village of Mogoroi, marks the first truce between warring factions in the Konnou constituency.
The region has been shut off from government services for years because of fighting and criminal activities attributed to groups led by Damian Koike, who comes from Mogoroi.
President Momis says the area is the last part of south Bougainville to undertake reconciliation after the war on the island.
“They’re following a traditional ritualist ceremony. I haven’t seen any written, legal documents but I presume they will be following traditonal, processes of reaching a truce, restorative justice phase and actual reconciliation.”
President John Momis says he hopes his presence at the ceremony will signal the government’s commitment to peace in the area
28.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville gun-free
NORTH and Central Bougainville are almost gun-free, a senior official says.
But the National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs director Ellison ToWallom last week said South Bougainville posed a risk for cross-border security breach by citizens between the Solomon Islands and Bougainville.
He said since the Bougainville crisis in 1989, this had been a growing concern for authorities.
28.11.2011
Source: The National
Youths say it with pictures
YOUNG men and women at Tinputz in North Bougainville have discovered that using photography is an effective way of informing their leaders about issues which place the sexual and mental health of youths at risk.
After undergoing six months of training on basic photography, 24 youths with the assistance of CARE International Bougainville programmes, staged a one-day mini exhibition last Wednesday to showcase their acquired skill.
The photos on display captured various activities that their peers are involved in including homebrew, drug trafficking and pornography on mobile phones.
Chief of Suako village Owen Kasi said he was impressed with what the youths had learnt.
28.11.2011
Source: The National
Somare family ‘honey pot’ dismantled
THE Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) and its state-owned enterprises were seen as the Somare family “honey pot” with family members and cronies appointed to its various boards, parliament was told last week.
Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said in a report tabled in parliament that IPBC became a super ministry that overlooked all processes.
“Deals were done with no commercial sense and have proven to be of little or no benefit to the public.”
He said the IPBC had “completely lost focus” of all other SOEs as they were more concentrated on the LNG project.
Sir Mekere said under his leadership, the ministry was going through the process of sorting out the mess as many irregularities were identified during the leadership of Arthur Somare.
“Reports on all SOEs indicated poor performances,” he said.
27.11.2011
Source: PNG Attitude
Second guessing the Mining Act
By Phil Fitzpatrick
EARLIER IN THE YEAR, Mines Minister Byron Chan peremptorily announced that the government planned to hand state-owned mineral rights back to traditional landowners.
Amid the uproar, prime minister Peter O’Neill managed to reassure the miners that this was not the case and apologised for the sudden dents in their shareholder’s wallets.
It was the first of several cases of government ministers jumping the gun. Hopefully, after the last instance involving the Supreme Court, the message has got through and O’Neill’s stress levels have returned to normal.
There is no doubt that the Mining Act will either be rewritten or amended. The current one goes back to 1992 and is not really up to dealing with the massive resource development and all the associated problems that are going on in Papua New Guinea at the moment.
If the Act is amended or re-written there are a number of key elements that need to be addressed.
Social mapping and landowner identification studies, just like those required under the Oil and Gas Act, need to be introduced. Under the latter Act preliminary studies are conducted before a company is allowed entry onto an exploration tenement and in detail if the project proceeds to the production stage.
These studies provide the company with an appreciation of the people in the area of a tenement and allow landowners to have an input into the exploration and development process. At the moment the inconsistency between the two Acts simply serves to confuse people.
Despite the earlier announcement it is very unlikely that landowners will get ownership of the minerals under their land. It is unfortunate that their expectations were unnecessarily raised but in reality the complications, legalities and inequities inherent in such a system are too great to be practical.
This doesn’t mean that there should not be provision for landholders to have greater equity in mining projects over and above any proportional royalties they might normally receive.
The way to do this would be to legislate so that they can negotiate deals over equity directly with the mining companies. It would also be good if the provinces, and even local level government, could get a cut of that action too.
The money would still have to be controlled through a trust arrangement but it would be a great way to get kinas out to the people.
Something should also be done to improve the process of dispute resolution between companies and landowners. At the moment the companies are being accused of bully boy tactics and the landowners of making spurious claims.
Claims by fake landholders are also ruining what should really be a mutually beneficial two-way street. A logical way of doing this might be to broaden the role of the Mining Warden.
The take-up of land for the purposes of mining is done on a leasehold basis from the state. The conditions for the return of rehabilitated land to the traditional landowners once a mining project runs its course should also be clarified in the Act.
Peter O’Neill has embarked on a campaign to tackle political and bureaucratic corruption. It would be useful if the Act reflected this in some way; possibly legislating so that people in public office, including their immediate families, involved in dealing with mining projects are not allowed to derive any financial benefit from insider knowledge or through bribery would be good.
This should be extended for some time beyond the life of both the project and/or the person’s tenure in their position.
Offshore mining, of the sort envisaged by Nautilus and other companies needs to be incorporated in the Act. Issues like the disposal of tailings will need to be addressed, either in the Mining Act or through a related Act.
The logical way to do this would be to extend the way in which Environment Impact Studies are conducted prior to the development stage.
There probably also needs to be some re-jigging and streamlining of the way royalty payments are calculated and paid. At the moment payments are made following a serious of regular production reports submitted by the companies. Quite often these are disputed.
A simpler method must be possible. Perhaps the companies could make royalty payments based on their own internal book keeping. Inspection and appeal provisions would keep everyone honest and it would take a big load off the government.
Finally, the maximum equity available to the state in a mining development needs to be fixed. At the moment it is more or less negotiable and, as has been clearly demonstrated, the government is short of skilled negotiators. A rate in the 25 – 35% range would seem appropriate.
When and if any of this might happen is anyone’s guess but it is an urgent issue and sometime before or immediately after the next election would be ideal.
The next cab off the rank could be the 1992 Forestry Act.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
TEAM TO VISIT BOUGAINVILLE
By T.TOVI
A medical team comprising of Pathology lab experts will be visiting Buka General Hospital in early February 2013.
The team will be visiting BGH to carry out awareness and training on pathology lab exercises and top of the range pathology equipment.
BGH is looking to purchase new equipment for its pathology lab as the current lab is not functioning to its full capacity.
A source from the Hospital revealed that the dates of their arrival were not set yet and that the program is to be a joint partnership with Canadian AID donors.
New Dawn FM understands that under the current management Buka General Hospital has had a lot of help from international donors.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
HAHELA SITS EXAMS
By T.TOVI
120 grade eight students yesterday sat for their higher school certificate exams at Hahela primary School.
The three classes of grade eights from Hahela Primary were joined by two classes of Kamarau International Grade eight students.
Head invigilator Ms Maseia Salenin from Malasang Primary says that the students on Monday started off with their English paper.
She added that out of the New OBE system this lot of grade eights was the second batch to graduate under the new OBE system.
She says the exams will end on Friday with the students to sit for their combine subjects exams.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
YOUTHS CHALLENGED TO CHANGE
By T.TOVI
A participant of the Photo Voice Project which was launched in Tinputz yesterday has challenged fellow youths to speak out.
Peer Educator Ronald Micah from Poho Village Assembly says that he was happy to be part of the project as he saw that it helped the youths in sharing their problems.
He explained that as youths they felt that village elders and community leaders were ignoring the problems that were facing the youths.
He says that the photo voice project really showed many of the issues and challenges faced by many youths in the Tinputz areas.
He also encouraged the youths of Bougainville to speak out in any way possible in whatever problems or issues they were facing to their leaders.
He says Bougainville youths are the leaders of tomorrow and have to be brought up well in order for them to lead Bougainville well.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
PHOTOVOICE EXHIBITION LAUNCHED
By T.TOVI
Youths from the Tinputz area were privileged yesterday in launching a photo voice mini exhibition.
The aim of the project was to show what problems that were affecting youths and also to help village elders make better decisions for them.
Communication officer for CARE International and Facilitator, Maureen Santana says that the 6 week program really showed the youths to express themselves.
The 26 participants who took part in the training were taught communication skills through the use of the camera and the photos which they had taken.
Maureen told New Dawn FM that this was the first of its kind in Bougainville and says that more similar programs have been planned.
The mini exhibition will be showcased in the major upcoming exhibition which will be held in Buka later this month.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
BUKA GH SHORT ON DRUGS
By T.TOVI
The Buka General Hospital will be closing its outpatient due to the shortage of drugs in the Hospital.
Director for Medical Services Dr Banabas Matanu says the closer was due to the lack of drugs in the hospitals dispensary.
Dr Matanu says the shortage was because the normal supply which the hospital receives from Rabaul has cut down after one of the drug warehouses in Rabaul was burnt down.
Staffs have been ordered to give nonresidential patients the first dosage and the rest will have to be purchased from city pharmacy.
The closure will be for an indefinite period until the medical drug supply is restored to normalcy for Buka General Hospital.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
Farewell.
IT will be a teary farewell for more than 200 trainee teachers, when they say goodbye to education stakeholders at the Buka wharf in Bougainville tomorrow.
The 280 second year trainees from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Kabaleo) Teachers College are headed for Rabaul, East New Britain on MV Kokopo Queen after spending five weeks on practical training at 28 primary schools throughout Buka Island.
Kabaleo Teachers College Head of Professional Development Strand BaiyuOlewale said the trainees and their twelve lecturers will take with them fond memories of their time spent with the people of Bougainville.
“We are very thankful of the first class hospitality we were given by parents, teachers and the communities we lived with. Unlike New Ireland and East New Britain where our students had to fend for themselves, in Buka, our students were taken in by families and looked after with no cost to us at all,” said Olewale.
He added that the students had only high praises for the parents who took the trainees in and catered for their meals and accommodation and also ensured the trainee’s safety.
Olewale said the care and support received in Buka had led to close to 20 of the trainee teachers lodging their request to work in Bougainville next year, much to the delight of the Bougainville education appointment officer.
He said also that teaching practice had successfully achieved the program’s aim to practice integrated teaching and child centered learning, to explore, observe, learn and share experiences and trial knowledge of teaching and learning and to uphold and practice Christian faith.
Olewale added that these second year trainees will achieve another milestone when they graduate with Diploma in teaching certificates this week.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
Bougainville nurses not paid
NURSES at the Catholic run Pearouki Health Centre in Tinputz, North Bougainville have been without pay for the last five forthnights, said senior officer Tabitha Vavitos.
Vavitos said the inconsistency in providing salary wages for the sixteen nurses including community health workers has been ongoing since early this year and the situation had gone worse with no salaries in the last five forthnights.
“We are family mothers with children in school. We need our money to pay for our needs. We don’t know where the hold up is but we appeal to Catholic Health Services to sort this issue out,” said Vavitos.
She said the concerned nurses wrote a letter to Bougainville Catholic Health Services seeking assistance.
“We sent a letter to Catholic Health Secretary and Churches Medical Council (CMC) informing them of our situation, the CMC responded that salary grants for catholic health centres is coming every month but we not getting our forthnights,” said Vavitos.
New Dawn Fm was unsuccessful in obtaining a response from the Catholic Health Secretary.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
Chiefs call for road support
COMMUNITY elders of Namatua village at Tinputz, North Bougainville have callled on the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) for assistance in completing road works initiated by member for North Bougainville Lauta Atoi.
Village leader Haymond Kite appealed to ABG minister for works and transport Carolus Ketsimur last Friday to assist with funding support for the 11km of road that links Namatua village one and two and Ture-Sure village to Tinputz district.
He said the road had been graded and widened by South Bougainville Engineering but further work on the road ceased last week.
In a desperate bid to seek Ketsimur’s attention, Kite had to walk the 11 km to Tinputz district administration to meet the minister who was attending a mini photovoice exhibition hosted by Care International PNG.
“I wanted the minister to see for himself how important the road is to the more than 3000 people in the area. I am glad that the minister has committed to include Namatua road as one of the feeder road projects for next year,” said Kite.
Ketsimur said ABG would embark on maintenance of prioritised feeder roads throughout the autonomous region next year.
“We will be upgrading the feeder roads prioritised according to their economic value of allowing access to resources that would boost our internal revenue. For Namatua road, we will be looking at working in partnership with Atoi,” said Ketsimur.
27.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn in Bougainville
Bougainville youths reach out in pictures
YOUNG men and women at Tinputz in North Bougainville have discovered that using photography is an effective way of informing their leaders on issues that place the sexual and mental health of youths at risk.
After undergoing six months of training on basic photography, 24 youths with the assistance of CARE International Bougainville programs, staged a one-day mini exhibition last Wednesday to showcase their acquired skill.
The photos on display, captured various activities that their peers are involved in including homebrew, drug trafficking and download of pornography on mobile phones.
Chief of Suako village Owen Kasi said he was impressed with what the youths had learnt.
“Please forgive us, many of us leaders are at times ignorant or turn a blind eye to these issues that affect our young. Many times, we leaders place ourselves too high that we isolate ourselves from your issues.
“Continue to show us through your photos, the issues you face so we leaders can address them on our level,” he said.
Participant photographers Hubert Boemapet and Ronald Micah of Pohov village said they now have the confidence to reveal in pictures the hidden activities their peers get involved in.
“We need our leaders to see what we youths get involved in when the leaders don’t improve basic services to our areas like doing good roads and supplying us medicine,” said Boemapet.
Micah added that because of bad road conditions, most of the young men at Tinputz are into cultivating and trafficking marijuana.
“Because our roads are bad, it is too much of hard work to carry copra bags from our village to town and store goods from there back home, so we turn to selling marijuana because it is light to carry and on a good sales day, we can get up to two thousand kina,” said Micah.
25.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Referendum on agenda
REFERENDUM for Bougainville is now high on agenda for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
And, according to the director for the National Co-ordination office of Bougainville Affairs, Ellison ToWallom, the implementation of autonomy is currently in progress.
In practical terms, a key aspect of implementing the autonomous arrangements is the drawdown of powers and functions from Waigani to Buka.
Already, five symbolic powers have been transferred. These are community development, sports, liquor licensing, public holidays and time zones.
Mr ToWallom said they are now implementing the transfer of powers and functions by various departments to divisions within the Bougainville administration.
“The methodology of transfer is arranged through joint signed MoUs during past Joint Supervisory Body meetings,” he said.
He said the following national government agencies have signed their MoUs with the ABG:
* Mining and Geohazards Management
* Internal Revenue Commission;
* Education;
* Teaching Service Commission;
* National Forest Authority;
* Commerce and Industry;
* Community Development;
* Health; and
* Lands and Physical Planning.
“We anticipate signing the following MoUs on December 5 at the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting in Buka. They include:
* Police;
* Works; and
* National Fisheries Authority;
“We also anticipate that the JSB will endorse an over-arching policy framework within which the transfer process will be implemented.
“The implementation of the Autonomous arrangements on Bougainville is indeed a challenging one from both the National Government, the ABG and our donor partners.
“Because while we grapple with the implementation challenges of the three pillars contained in the Bougainville Peace Agreement, we also need to encourage investment that will enhance the economic sustainability of autonomy itself,” he said.
25.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville faces audit team
Auditors are back in Buka to interview authorities over major deficiencies pertaining to millions of kina in public monies that have not been acquitted accordingly.
But while this is happening, those expected to be lined up for the auditing have fled Bougainville for Port Moresby or other destinations to avoid standing before the auditors.
The auditors from the Auditor-General’s office visited Buka last month to follow up on a letter they sent to the Bougainville Administration asking for an explanation on the use of millions of kina which have not been acquitted.
According to the auditors the final audit report for the Autonomous Bougainville Government accounts for the fiscal year ending December 31 2008 and 2009 are not looking good especially for the North Bougainville Treasury funds and the North Bougainville District Support Improvement Program (DSIP) funds.
“We are here to perform our duties and out final audit inspection carried out in respect of the accounts and records of the Bougainville Autonomous Government for the fiscal year ended 31st December 2008 and 2009 as required under Section 13 (5) of the Organic Law on Provincial governments and Local level Governments, read in conjunction with Section 16 of the Audit Act, 1998, (as amended) and Section 71 of the Public Finances (Management) Act, 1995 (as amended) has now been completed,” the auditors said in the report.
“Our major observations on the deficiencies noted together with perceived consequences and relevant recommendations for rectification.”
They told the Post-Courier the final audit report will have to be made public by the Auditor-General once presented on the floor of Parliament.
The Post Courier has been privy to the preliminary report which states that records for millions of kina belonging to the people of Bougainville have not been properly acquitted and could have been misused.
The auditor’s report details that one major problem with the deficiencies is because of the heavy involvement of third party companies.
25.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville mining lease expires
By JONATHAN TANNOS
THE Bougainville Mining Lease cannot be reviewed, despite its expiration yesterday, because of an automatic 21-year extension clause under the Bougainville Agreement.
Such is the case facing the once prolific world copper producer but the Government will be working with all affected stakeholders, including landowners to find ways to reverse the process.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill explained to Parliament yesterday that both the Bougainville Mining Agreement and the Mining Lease Agreement did not allow the Government to cancel it.
He said even amendments to the Autonomous Government of Bougainville Act could change the 21-years automatic recurring lease extension period.
He was answering questions from National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, who raised questions over the matter, adding considering the hardships both Bougainville and the country went through why there could not be a cancellation to mining lease.
He also asked if a moratorium on exploration was in place for any regions of Bougainville.
Mr O’Neill said the Government was working closely with all stakeholders including landowners, eventhough they had indicated they were not interested in the renewal of the mining lease. He said on the question of the current mining lease agreement provisions, it would be useful to work together to review the 21-year automatic extension clause and find legal means to remove it.
25.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Peace assured for NEC meet in Arawa
By ALEX MUNME
THE Teachers Service Commission Regional Adviser to NGI Anthony Tsora while appealing to the National Government not to move the coming National Executive Council meeting scheduled for January next year from Arawa to Kavieng, has assured that there will be peace during the meeting.
Mr Tsora said that during his involvement with the people in the peace signings and the restoration of education in Bougainville, particularly the people of Arawa and Panguna, had been seen as real genuine people.
He said security would not be a problem as the people were already looking forward to the meeting.
Mr Tsora said the meeting would be a boost to the Education Department of Bougainville and the Bougainville Administration and the change in its venue would be a slap in the face for them.
He said the K6 million marked for the meeting was reasonable.
25.11.2011
Source: The National
O’Neill to attend Bougainville meet
By SAMUEL RAITANO
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill is expected to attend the joint supervisory body (JSB) meeting in Buka next month.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with the national government to transfer the powers of the police, works and National Fishery Authority.
It is expected that the supervisory body will endorse an over-arching policy framework within which the transfer process will be implemented.
A joint technical team comprising officials from the national government and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville met on Wednesday and yesterday to finalise documentation and endorse agenda items for the meeting.
The National Coordination office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) said the meeting was set for Dec 5.
The joint technical meetings will be conducted by the NCOBA director and chief administrator, while the JSB will be co-chaired by the deputy Prime Minister and the ABG President.
In the transfer of powers and functions, the Bougainville Peace Agreement had stipulated that Bougainville must have financial and human resources in order to undertake the task of implementing the transferred functions under the autonomous arrangements.
However, NCOBA director Ellison ToWalom said with the rate of progress, the achievement could not be realised as yet given that the referendum was to be legally held between 2015 and 2020.
“It is with this challenge that the national government must transfer public service powers and the functions with the responsibility of funding and manpower support to the ABG while it (ABG) will provide the policy and legal direction under the proposed arrangement.”
25.11.2011
Source: The National
Churches in ABG miss out
BUDGET allocation for churches in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be considered a priority once the Bougainville House of Representatives passes a bill to set aside money for the churches, Autonomous Bougainville Government Vice-President Patrick Nisira says.
He said this in response to observations made by ABG women’s representative for North, Elizabeth Burain on churches in Bougainville not being allocated money in the K24 million ABG supplementary budget passed last Friday.
“We do so much physically but spiritually if we do same, we will be better off.
“In our future budgets, we need to ensure 10% of the budget is given
to churches,” Burain said.
Taking into account Burain’s advice, Nisira said that there was only a policy on the matter but no bill had been passed by the Bougainville House of Representatives requiring the ABG to set aside money for churches.
25.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville education board sworn in
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
EDUCATION services in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are expected to improve following the swearing in of the Bougainville Education Board on Tuesday.
Thirteen members from a wide section of the Bougainville community, including churches and the national government, have been tasked with aligning Bougainville’s education system with the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s vision for autonomy.
ABG Vice-President Patrick Nisira said the board must be aggressive in seeking to deliver ABG’s aspiration of quality education for the people of the region.
“Having the vision of autonomy in mind, I challenge you, when do you intend to establish Bougainville’s first university, technical colleges and other key institutions like teachers and nursing colleges. Autonomy without key education institutions cannot work,” Nisira said.
He said the Bougainville Education Board must anticipate changes and steer the region’s education sector in the right direction.
He said Bougainville’s education sector was one of the worst functioning sectors in the region.
“I would like to see a radical change from the position we are in to a more vibrant education system,” Nisira said.
He said he was honoured to be the first Bougainville vice-president to swear in a board after the Bougainville executive council endorsed the appointment of the board members.
“This is a historic occasion as for the first time BEC has appointed a board using the draw-down of some powers and functions of education from the national government to ABG,” he said.
24.11.2011
Source: ESBC
New Somare scandal to come up?
The Somare family is greedy. This is well known in Papua New Guinea: During his heart surgery in Singapore in spring and summer 2011, Sir Michael's family "entourage" spent more that the double of the hospital expenses for their own pleasure: approximately 2,7 million KIna! (see report on September 5th, 2011) It was not reported if Sir Michael's son Michael jr. who was a suspect in an attempt murder case also enjoyed a nice holiday in the Asian boom town.
Today new allegations were made on this arrogant family: The PNG press reported on a dubiuos involvement in transactions commited by former Public Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare, a son of former Prime Minister "Grand Chief" Sir Michael Somare. Earlier Somare junior who was supposed to inherite his father's job. Actually he faces legal investigations for misconduct in office. What did Sir Michael know about his son's secret businesses? Was he perhaps even his mentor? Sir Michael Somare himself who still cannot accept his democratic removal from office in August 2011 has often been under suspicion to be also involved in doubtful activities as there is the famous California court case falsely accusing mining giant Rio Tinto for violation of human rights during the so called Bougainville crises.
If all this should be confirmed H.M. the Queen Elizabeth II should think about depriving Sir Michael of his knighthood.
Did Sir Michael's son Arthur Somare embezzle 96 million Kina?
This rather strange story was published in today's PNG newspaper The National - please read here what the daily newspaper reported:
24.11.2011
Source: The National
Missing K96m found in NSW bank
ALMOST K100 million owned by a state-owned enterprise has been siphoned off to a bank account in the Australian state of New South Wales and a police investigation is underway to recover the money.
Former public enterprises minister Arthur Somare and former Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd (MVIL) manager director Dr John Mua are implicated.
The money – about K96 million – was the proceeds of the sale of 530,105,100 shares in Bank South Pacific which were owned by MVIL.
Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta announced details yesterday, saying he had ordered the recovery of the money.
“The sale, to an Australian company called Nominees Niugini Ltd, is now the subject of a police investigation.”
He said MVIL sold the shares when under the control of his predecessor Arthur Somare and the former Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) management.
According to Sir Mekere, proper processes had not been followed, and the sale was in breach of Section 45B of the IPBC Act and Section 110 of the Companies Act.
The sale was not approved by the IPBC board, as required, and there was no shareholders’ resolution approving the sale, as required, he added.
The new IPBC board has instructed MVIL to rescind the sale contract, called an equity monetisation contract agreement while starting legal proceedings against MVIL and Nominees Niugini.
“The money is being held in an account owned by a company called Woodlawn Capital, at the Commonwealth Bank in Lismore, New South Wales,” Sir Mekere said while calling on Mua to help recover the money.
“Dr Mua would save the nation a lot of money by assisting us in the recovery of the K96 million and its return to IPBC.
“For the nation to recover the money through court proceedings would be expensive and time-consuming. I would like Dr Mua to help us avoid this.”
Sir Mekere said this when announcing NEC’s endorsement of changes to the MVIL board, adding that no Public Enterprise chairman would be an executive chairman.
24.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Plans set to review BCA
By GORETHY KENNETH
PLANS are now underway to establish a National Government’s Coordination Group to oversee the Bougainville Copper Agreement review process.
The Bougainville Copper Agreement review was as old as 1967 when it was initiated and no other reviews were made since then except for “slight negotiations” along the way. The BCA Review, if undertaken now will be a completely “new deal” as stated by the parties that would be involved in the negotiations.
The Coordination Group will be made up of the following representatives:
* Two representatives from the ABG
* Two representatives from the National Government
* Two representatives from the Panguna Landowners Association and
* One representative from the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL)
This is from a brief from the Deputy Chief administrator for Bougainville Raymond Masono in his presentation to the Autonomous Bougainville Government Steering Committee together with the Panguna Management Consultative Committee in Buka last week.
The Group is expected, when set up to also cover the BCA Act which was also discussed including the legality of it (ACT) -the Panguna Landowners claimed it was now irrelevant and wanted a completely new deal.
The other issue discussed which the Group would take charge of was BCL’s request to the National Government to extend/renew the Special Mine Lease (SML) licence.
But the Panguna Management consultative Committee is now aware the National Government had allocated K2 million to oversee the BCA Review and other Panguna mine re-opening allocations and mine related matters.
This fund will cater for the landowner’s establishment, regional awareness, ABG/PLOA – BCA Secretariat and the PMCC works program (budget). There are already five of the sic mine leases registered by the mining division and they include Special Mine Lease (SML), Lower Tailing Lease (LTL), Upper Tailing Lease (UTL), Port Mine Access Road Lease (PMARL) and Uruawa/Rorovana Lease (URL and the Siokate Lease (Arawa Customary Land). All these issues should be the agendas for the National Coordination Group if setup by the Government. This is the start of the Bougainville Copper Agreement Review.
24.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Arawa meeting to cost K6m
By GORETHY KENNETH
THE bill for the planned National Executive Council Meeting in Arawa next January will cost taxpayers a whopping K6 million.
Coupled with security concerns, the Government is now considering moving the meeting away from Bougainville to Kavieng in New Ireland Province.
The proposed move has angered the Bougainville politicians, the autonomous government and their people.
Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis briefed the Panguna Management Consultative Committee (PMCC) meeting of the changes.
PMCC is made up of ABG leaders from the Mining division, Law and Justice, ABG Administration, ABG ministers, expatriate advisors and the Panguna Landowners.
The PMCC was told the major hurdle for the Cabinet meeting to be held in Arawa was financial constraints and security reasons.
During the meeting, there were some discussions on why the move was made as people in Arawa and Panguna had already made preparations to welcome the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Cabinet Ministers. The people of Central Bougainville raised their disappointments in the cancellation of the NEC meeting in Arawa as already preparations were underway to host the meeting.
President Momis assured he would travel to Port Moresby and meet with Mr O’Neill on the matters raised by the people of Central Bougainville. This week the National Co-ordinating Office of Bougainville Affairs (NACOBA) advised that the Joint Supervisory Body meeting, the avenue for the National Government and the ABG to discuss issues pertaining to Bougainville, was re-scheduled for December 5 in Buka. Mr O’Neill is expected to lead his National Government team to Buka for the meeting.
24.11.2011
Source: The National
Chamber: Bid on mineral rights ownership will split country
A PROPOSAL to turn ownership of mineral rights over to landowners in Papua New Guinea would split national unity and devastate the country’s economically vital mining sector, the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum warned last week.
Supporters of the move led by former prime minister Julius Chan believe it would better distribute royalties from the billions of dollars reaped each year from mining and oil directly to local communities instead of relying on the central government.
But chamber executive director Greg Anderson said this would lead to chaos and could deter foreign investment in the nation’s single-largest revenue earner.
The proposal was first tabled by North Fly MP Boka Kondra whose electorate covers the giant Ok Tedi mine and the proposed legislation was now dubbed as the Kondra Bill.
Supporting the move was current governor of New Ireland Sir Julius Chan whose electorate hosts two mines – Lihir gold and Simberi.
Sir Julius’s son Byron became the minister under the new government and one of the first positions he took was to publicly announce a shift in favour of the Kondra Bill for landowners to own the mining and petroleum resources under the ground and the sea.
It was likely to become a key issue ahead of national election next June, which was often described as an island of gold, floating in a sea of oil surrounded by gas.
“The proposal is getting a high profile because we’re coming up to the election,” Anderson said.
The country had long been a supplier of petroleum products, copper and gold and investor confidence in exploiting more reserves had been growing.
Exxon Mobil was developing a US$15 billion liquefied natural gas project and a consortium led by Metallurgical Corporation of China was digging a nickel mine.
Anderson said direct ownership of minerals rights could fracture the country’s national identity and promote individualism and personal greed.
A prominent lawyer Peter Donigi, who recently formed a political party in favour of resource landowners, was in Kiunga last week with Kondra where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the mooted passage of the bill in Parliament.
The National newspaper believed that was not likely to happen with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s commitment recently at an investors’ luncheon in Brisbane “not to shift the goal posts”.
24.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Arawa Power
PNG power workmen busy on power lines
23.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Churches not in budget
BUDGET allocation for churches in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be considered a priority once the Bougainville House of Representatives passes a bill on setting aside money for the church, says ABG vice president Patrick Nisira.
He said this in response to observations made by ABG women representative for North Elizabeth Burain on churches in Bougainville not allocated money in the K24 million ABG supplementary budget passed last Friday.
“We do so much physically but spiritually if we do same, we will be better off. In our future budgets, we need to ensure ten percent of the budget is given to churches,” said Burain.
Taking into account Burain’s advice, Nisira explained that presently there is only a policy on the matter but no bill has been passed by the Bougainville House of Representatives to require ABG to set aside money for churches.
23.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
CARE hosts mini exhibition
LOCAL communities at Tinputz in North Bougainville will participate in Photovoice mini exhibition hosted by Care International in PNG Bougainville programs today.
The one-day exhibition launched at Tinputz is a result of CARE International’s work in its Komuniti Tingim AIDS program with young men and women in four communities in Tinputz using the Photovoice project.
Photovoice is an advocacy tool used to raise awareness about issues with leaders using Photography.
Themed ‘Piksa I Kamapim Toktok’, the mini exhibition is expected to build a conducive environment for open dialogue and awareness raising by young men and women on issues placing their sexual reproductive health at risk.
23.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Bougainville swears in board
EDUCATION services in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is expected to improve following the swearing in of the Bougainville Education Board (BEB) today.
Thirteen members from a wide section of the Bougainville community including churches and the national government have been tasked with aligning Bougainville’s education system with the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) vission for autonomy.
ABG vice president Patrick Nisira urged that the board must be aggressive in seeking to deliver ABG’s aspiration of quality education services for the people of Bougainville.
“Having the vision of autonomy in mind, I challenge you, when do you intend to establish Bougainville’s first university, technical colleges and other key institutions like teachers and nursing colleges. Autonomy without key education institutions, cannot work,” said Nisira.
He added that the BEB must anticipate changes and steer the region’s education sector in the right way, citing that Bougainville’s education sector was one of the worst functioning sector in the region.
“I would like to see a radical change from the studded position we are in to a more vibrant education system,” urged Nisira.
Nisira added that he was honoured to be the first Bougainville vice president to swear in a board after the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) endorsed the appointment of the BEB members.
“This is a historic occasion as for the first time BEC has appointed a board using the draw down of some powers and functions of Education from the national government to ABG. On behalf of president John Momis, I am proud to have conducted a ceremony usually done in Waigani,” said Nisira.
ABG minister for Education John Tabinaman in congratulating the BEB said the members have a lot to do especially with the draw down of full powers and functions of education from the national government.
23.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Landowners raise concern over 10% withholding tax
By FRANK RAI
LANDOWNERS from mining project areas in PNG want appropriate authorities including Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) to review the 10 per cent withholding tax imposed on royalty payments.
Hidden Valley gold mine landowner spokesman Ben Joseph raised the concern yesterday saying he had approached several authorities within the last four years but nothing had eventuated.
Mr Joseph said MRA should tell the landowners as to why they have been taxed 10 per cent withholding tax from their royalty payments.
“I understand that the new government is embarking on reviewing the mining act and that should also include the tax laws surrounding the issue of the 10 per cent withholding tax, “he said.
Mr Joseph further questioned the system or process in the law that will allow resource owners to recover costs incurred within the period.
“Landowners who have not completed a tax return form or have obtained a certificate of compliance from Internal Revenue Commission will now have to do it. The MRA and Internal Revenue Commission must give relevant advice to these people on the recovery process,” the landowner said.
Mr Joseph also blamed the government departments for failing to properly inform the landowners on the significance of paying such taxes.
He said that this was the scenario at Hidden Valley mine where the landowners have been taxed 10 per cent withholding tax on their royalty payments.
Mr Joseph called on all mining resource owners to throw their support behind New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan and raised concerns on the governments over sighting the 10 per cent withholding tax issue.
23.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Controversial mining tax passes Australian lower house
It took hours of debate, and a last minute deal between the Government and the Greens, but the proposed minerals resource rent tax finally passed the House of Representatives in the early hours of this morning.
The Government spent much of the evening working out a deal to make up millions of dollars in revenue lost through its earlier agreement with the Independent M-P Andrew Wilkie to raise the threshold for the tax.
The Greens say they're happy with the Government's promised new revenue measures, but they're not saying what they are.
Presenter:Naomi Woodley
Speaker:Adam Bandt, Australian Greens MP; Wayne Swan, Australian Treasurer; Harry Jenkins, Parliamentary Speaker; Anthony Albanese, Government Leader of the House
Listen here !
23.11.2011
Source: The National
World Bank: PNG Economy seen to increase by 10%
THE World Bank says PNG’s economic growth is expected to increase by almost 10%, but Central Bank Governor Loi Bakani told a recent meeting in the US that it was likely to hit a lower end of the double-digit mark.
While the growth may look good, that comes with risks like high inflation, it said.
With PNG “well off track” with the millennium development goals, there was likelihood of increase crime, adding extra cost-burdens on businesses.
The continued uncertainty on the global economic scene could reverse price of commodities and resource projects planned for development in the near future could be delayed. (See story in Nation news pages).
“Papua New Guinea’s economy strengthened further over the first-half of this year, buoyed by a sequence of positive external developments adding to the momentum in the domestic economy.
“Expectations for GDP growth this year have been raised to near 10%.
“This will be the eighth consecutive year of expansion, the longest period of economic growth in PNG’s history as an independent nation,” the report said.
Titled Navigating Turbulance, Sustaining Growth, the report said PNG’s new government’s presentation focused on improving the quality of governance and use of public resources, raising the government’s effectiveness at providing public services and ensuring all Papua New Guineans benefit from the country’s current resources boom.
It said the new government’s headline policy announcement was tuition-fee free education through to year 10, starting next year.
The government has also affirmed its commitment to maintaining macro-fiscal stability, through the introduction of an Organic Law (constitutional amendment) establishing a sovereign wealth fund to manage the government’s growing natural resource revenues.
Three factors underlined the strength of PNG’s economy:
- Foreign-investment funded construction projects;
- Record prices for PNG’s exports, and strong government; and
- Spending financed by higher-than-expected revenues.
The current foreign direct investment-funded construction projects were approaching their peak of activity, although others are in the pipeline.
These investment projects were adding to the country’s supply capacity, in sectors ranging from accommodation, through IT and transport and telecommunications to catering.
Meanwhile, up to the third quarter of this year, prices of PNG’s cash crop exports like coffee, copra and palm oil returned to or exceeded the highs of mid-2008.
“Exceptional global gold and copper prices lifted the value of PNG’s minerals exports, with the strength in prices enough to make up for ongoing delays or production problems at various mines,” it said.
The sectors of the economy most directly impacted by these factors – particularly construction, road, air and sea transport, storage and communications – were expected to expand by as much as 20% this year.
“This strength is spilling into other sectors in the economy (for instance, retail trade), thus creating a broaderdynamic.
“Even agriculture and fishery production are expected to grow by more than 4% this year as producers respond to higher cash crop prices.
“It is also raising demand for workers, with growth in employment in the formal sector accelerating to over 7% in the year to second half of this year,” the WB said, quoting Bank of PNG’s Business Liaison Survey.
“The strength in export values and turnover in the economy has raised government revenues.
“Government revenues are anticipated to exceed the budgeted amount by around 6.5%, which would imply an increase of about 20% over the estimated actuals for last year.
“Most of the unexpected strength, in fact, reflects the conservative assumptions for minerals prices in the 2011 budget, which have been exceeded,” it said.
The report said the new government had used its additional revenues to fund its supplementary budget for this year.
“The largest new spending item was funding for the tuition-fee free education commitment.
“More resources were also allocated to road reconstruction and health,” the report said.
23.11.2011
Source: The National
Japanese visit Bougainville to check on TV equipment
by KESSIE TADAP
TAKING ownership of donor-funded projects is important because it will ease their sustainability for the benefit of the community in the long-run, a teacher says.
This was demonstrated by a local primary school on the island of Buka, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, last week when it was visited by officials of the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
They wanted to see the progress and the impact of a satellite dish and television monitors given to the school.
The equipment was donated under the grant assistance for grassroots human security project and supported by the Embassy of Japan.
Head teacher Talania Joseph Nathaniel said from the initial equipment donated by JICA and through fundraising efforts from showing live programmes such as the State of Origin rugby league games, the school was able to generate income.
The school used the money to buy seven more television screens.
It has benefitted the students who can learn through televised lessons filmed at the Wardstrip Demonstration Primary School in Port Moresby and telecast nationwide.
The lessons taught through the televised lessons include mathematics and science.
Bougainville was one of the pilot provinces with East Sepik and would be used as model centres when the project was taken to other provinces, JICA representative Yoshikazu Taniguchi said.
Schools visited by the team from JICA and the embassy were Hahela Primary School and Wakunai Primary School, which is struggling to raise money to buy more monitors for the school.
22.11.2011
Source: Reuters
Falling inventories show strong global copper demand
HAMBURG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Global copper demand remains firm despite fears of an economic slowdown and key consumer China is likely to raise imports again in November, Aurubis , Europe's biggest copper producer, said on Tuesday.
"The general view that demand is suffering due to economic concerns does not seem to fit with the inventory trend in the metal exchange warehouses," Aurubis said in a report. "Copper production does not meet the requirements."
London Metal Exchange inventories <0#LME-STOCKS> have decreased continuously by a total of around 70,000 tonnes since the end of the European summer in mid-September 2011 and are now just below 400,000 tonnes, Aurubis said.
"The additional quantities registered for delivery add up to about 27,000 tonnes," it said. "The reduction will therefore continue. There are only about 74,000 tonnes in the SHFE (Shanghai Futures Exchange) warehouses. Copper stocks are thus disappearing all over the place."
Chinese copper and copper product imports rose sharply in October despite fears of a slowdown, Aurubis said.
"A higher (Chinese import) number is also expected for November, as the lower copper prices which started in early September will start having an effect," it said. "In addition to the price factor, possible production shortages at Chinese smelters play a role as well."
"They are currently struggling with low treatment and refining charges for concentrates and have announced that they would prefer to lower production than to accept lower TC/RCs."
Treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) are the fees paid by mines and traders to smelters to refine copper concentrate into metal.
Spot TC/RCs are currently falling because strikes in mines in South America and Indonesia have lowered volumes of concentrates on international markets, increasing competition among smelters to gain sufficient supplies.
"With this combination of factors: good demand in core markets, low stocks and insufficient production, it is not surprising that a possible market shortage is anticipated for 2012," Aurubis said. (Reporting by Michael Hogan)
22.11.2011
Source: ARD Boerse
Aurubis freut sich über Energiewende
Einen Schub durch die Energiewende erwartet Europas größter Kupferproduzent. Der wachsende Bedarf an Windturbinen und Stromleitungen werde die Kupfernachfrage beflügeln, verkündete der Aurubis-Finanzchef auf dem Eigenkapitalforum.
Mit zahlreichen bunten Grafiken und Statistiken versuchte Finanzvorstand Erwin Faust die zahlreichen versammelten Investoren im Frankfurter Congress Centrum zu begeistern. Die Nachfrage nach Kupfer werde kontinuierlich steigen – von 19,3 Millionen Tonnen 2010 auf 22,9 Millionen Tonnen 2015. Neue Technologien würden die Nachfrage weiter anschieben. Faust nannte als Beispiele die unterirdischen Seekabeln, dezentrale Energieanlagen, Windturbinen, Smart Grids und Elektroautos.
Kupferangebot nimmt zu
Faust zeigte sich zuversichtlich, dass auch das Kupferangebot weltweit steige. „Die Kapazitäten werden stärker ausgebaut als in den letzten Jahren“, erklärte er auf dem Eigenkapitalforum.
Wie sich der Kupferpreis weiter entwickle, wollte der Finanzchef nicht sagen angesichts der Unsicherheit in der Weltkonjunktur. Mittelfristig werde der Kupferpreis aber hoch bleiben, glaubt er. Derzeit notiert er bei rund 7.500 Dollar pro Tonne.
Von einer Abschwächung der Weltkonjunktur sei derzeit nichts zu spüren. „Es gibt keine negativen Signale“, sagte Faust gegenüber boerse.ARD.de.
Gerüstet für drohende Blackouts
Die Energiewende sieht Faust mit einem lachenden und weinenden Auge. Einerseits treibt sie die Nachfrage nach Kupfer. Andererseits erhöht sie das Risiko von Stromausfällen und Blackouts. Auf einen möglichen Blackout sei der Konzern aber inzwischen vorbereitet, erklärte Faust in Frankfurt. Das Energieproblem habe sich abgeschwächt. In der Vergangenheit hatte Aurubis (einst Norddeutsche Affinerie) mehrfach die Energiepolitik der Bundesregierung kritisiert.
Angesichts der starken Nachfrage nach Kupfer und Kupferprodukten rechnet Faust mit guten Zahlen für das Ende September abgelaufene Geschäftsjahr 2010/11. „Wir werden klar über dem angepeilten Ziel von 260 Millionen Euro beim operativen Ergebnis liegen“, versprach er. Nach neun Monaten hatte Aurubis bereits 240 Millionen Euro an Ebit erzielt.
22.11.2011
Source: Reuters
Copper pushes higher as fundamentals offer support
By Chris Kelly and Silvia Antonioli
NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Copper rose for the
first time in four days on Tuesday, buoyed by signs of stronger
buying interest, particularly from Asia, following the metal's
steady unwind from its late October rally.
Copper pushed higher as investors returned their focus to
the red metal's robust fundamentals, which have recently been
overlooked amid the worrisome debt problems in Europe and the
United States, and the negative implications any slowdown in
the West could have on raw material demand prospects.
But the upward move lacked conviction as caution prevailed
in front of the overnight release of China's HSBC Flash
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index for November, which
should dictate copper's direction on Wednesday
.
Copper's gains bucked another down day in global equities,
which fell after data showed the third-quarter U.S. economy
grew more slowly than expected.
"It's been a rough few days, so this is a bit of a bounce,"
said Bart Melek, head commodity strategist with TD Bank
Financial Group.
But he warned the European debt issues will continue to
dominate market sentiment.
"We've got Italian and Spanish bond yields advancing again
today, so the problems there continue. Any negative headline is
going to beat this (market) up again," he said.
Helping metals, the euro rallied against the dollar after
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) beefed up its lending
instruments and introduced a new six-month liquidity line,
throwing help to countries at risk from the euro zone crisis.
London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month copper
ended up $20 at $7,330 tonne. It fell as low as $7,252 on
Monday, its weakest in almost a month.
"Yesterday it got a bit overdone with all the doom and
gloom. There's a disconnect between solid fundamentals, whether
they're falling stocks, production shortfalls or pockets of
demand and ... what is happening on the financial markets,"
said analyst Robin Bhar of Credit Agricole.
In New York, the key December COMEX copper contract
rose 3.00 cents to settle at $3.3330 per lb, after moving
between $3.2935 and $3.3735.
Futures volumes, at a little more than 51,000 lots, ran
about 13 percent below the 30-day norm, according to
preliminary Thomson Reuters data, and should continue to be
thin ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday.
Still, the market's main focus will remain on Europe, and
now the United States. Focus on the latter increased after U.S.
lawmakers abandoned their high-profile effort to rein in the
country's ballooning debt on Monday -- a sign that Washington
likely will not be able to resolve a dispute over taxes and
spending until 2013.
"Ultimately, the market is absolutely petrified of another
downgrade of the U.S.," Melek said.
But demand for copper products globally remains firm,
despite fears of an economic slowdown and key consumer China is
likely to raise imports again in November, Aurubis ,
Europe's biggest copper producer, said on Tuesday.
"The general view that demand is suffering due to economic
concerns does not seem to fit with the inventory trend in the
metal exchange warehouses," Aurubis said in a report. "Copper
production does not meet the requirements."
China's imports of refined copper rose 7.2 percent in
October on the month to hit an 18-month high, fueled by steady
demand.
LME copper stockpiles have been in a steady
downtrend, with outflows of the metal totaling around 70,000
tonnes since the end of the European summer in mid-September
2011, and are now just below 400,000 tonnes.
Reinforcing the supply-side tightness, the International
Copper Study Group (ICSG) said the world refined copper market
was in deficit of 161,000 tonnes in the first eight months of
the year, compared with a deficit of 339,000 tonnes in the same
period last year.
An additional underpinning for copper has been an ongoing
strike at a large mine in Indonesia owned by Freeport-McMoRan
Copper & Gold Inc , which has reduced supply availability.
22.11.2011
Source: The National
Buka Hospital short of staff
By KESSIE TADAP
RECRUITING health workers for the Buka General Hospital is an immediate problem, its top administrator says.
“This is apart from the pressing need to increase the sleeping capacity for patients in the hospital wards,” hospital chief executive officer Dr Ceril Imako said.
He was hosting representatives from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Embassy of Japan who were checking on equipment they donated and projects they funded at the hospital.
Imako said the hospital needed to increase its accommodation capacity for staff and patients but this could not be done because of space limitations at the current site and funding. e said the hospital was built 30 years ago with an 84-bed capacity. But, Imako said, with the increase in population, the hospital was being forced to accommodate up to 130 patients, resulting in overcrowded wards.
He said it had created another problem – staff were forced to live in villages resulting in punctuality issues.
Imako said the hospital employed 10 doctors and 160 nursing personnel but needed to recruit more to cater for the growing number of patients.
Hospital director medical services Dr Barnabas Matano said the hospital would like to roll-out more blood transfusion programmes to other areas apart from those carried out on Buka Island.
But with only one blood bank machine, “this cannot be done”, he said.
Matano said installing another blood storage facility at Arawa would really help as that meant spanning a larger area to get greater blood supply for the hospital.
He said it would have to wait until the Arawa area had a proper supply.
22.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville passes K24m budget
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
THE Bougainville House of Representatives successfully passed its supplementary budget of K24 million last Friday.
The budget, comprising K15 million of Bougainville’s restoration and development grant and K9 million from other sources, is geared towards investment and the consolidation of peace and development of the autonomous region.
But Autonomous Bougainville Government Finance Minister Albert Punghau has advised that with only a month remaining before the end of this year, not all projects that received funding would be implemented and completed on time.
He said a significant portion of the budgetary allocations had been towards meeting contractual obligations of the ABG.
“This means that resources have to be made available to complete development project that have remained incomplete in the past three years because funds were re-directed to other priority areas,” Punghau said.
Punghau summarised the expenditure of the 2011 supplementary budget as follows:
Headquarters operations for region wide projects (K6,058,000);
North Bougainville (K3,501,800);
Central Bougainville (K2,719,300);
South Bougainville (K2,720,900);
Buka Ring Road sealing (K5 million);
Panguna Mine negotiations (K2 million);
ABG Establishment Grant (K1 million); and
Panguna peace process (K1 million).
Punghau said other strategic expenditure items in the budget included:
Constituency support Grant (K1,025,000);
Bougainville People’s Congress entitlements (K860,000);
Bougainville Export Import Corporations (BEIC) shares purchase (K500,000);
Panguna mine negotiations (K2,500,000);
Support to Parliamentary Services and Bougainville Executive Council (K500,000);
Completion of President’s Office (K701,000); and
Konnou Peace Process (K100,000);
This is the first supplementary budget to be approved by the Momis-Nisira government since their election to office in June last year.
22.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Konnou peace deal set for December
By Fabian Gatana
THE signing of the ceasefire agreement in Konnou, South Bougainville has been proposed to be held before Christmas.
ABG Vice President and Chairman of the Konnou Task Force committee Patrick Nisira made this known when commending the efforts of the task force committee and a peace mission team for restoring peace in Konnou in the Wisai area.
He also praised President Chief John Momis and his cabinet for making the decision to push for peace in Konnou.
He said that under the direction of the Task Force committee, a peace committee was sent to establish dialogue between warring parties which he said had created venues to negotiate peace.
“For the past six to eight years of the conflict in Konnou, there have been killings which have caused insecurity to women and children and have displaced a handful of families from their homes.
“Today you hear people talking about peace, reconciliation and not war,” said Mr Nisira.
22.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Guesthouses under survey
A GUESTHOUSE survey analysis has been conducted in the Autonomous Region of Bougaiville.
The analysis looks at different components of interests that are importance to guesthouses and hotels as well as the Bougainville Tourism Industry Association.
Regions were evaluated on seven critical areas like communication, infrastructure, awareness, water sanitation, training, electricity, law and order. These are very important areas that affect the development of the industry in Bougainville.
It also looks at the number of employees for each guesthouses, their contact addresses, facilities, as well as assessed and identified the training needs and the year of establishment. The recommendations for these issues show that despite the potential the region has, the current limited level of development and relatively low visitor numbers are a reflection of the significant constraints which the sector faces.
The appendix gives information in details in the form of table for training needs analysis.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Members unhappy
MEMBERS of the Bougainville House of Representatives are not happy with their constitutional grant of of K1,025,000 from the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) supplementary budget that was passed last Friday.
Before approving the appropriation of the K24 million supplementary budget for this year, some members of the House said they were unhappy with the small amount of grant they were allocated.
Member for Tsitalato Cosmas Sohia urged that ABG give more money to the region’s 41 constituency members so they could deliver more projects in their constituencies.
“You help us so that our constituents will know we are also delivering. This is the kind of lack of support you provided and many of our former members never made it back in the last election. It is because of us, that you are sitting in your seats,” warned Sohia.
ABG members expressed disappointiment at what they felt was lack of consideration in appropriating their constitutional grant of which each member would receive K25,000.
But ABG finance minister Albert Punghau assured the members that they would get more assistance as soon as the Internal Revenue Commission returns Bougainville’s internal revenue of K1.2 million that is “locked up” in Port Moresby.
He said there was no time set on when IRC would release the money but when it did, the members would receive additional grant.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
House passes K24 million budget
BOUGAINVILLE House of Representatives successfully passed its supplementary budget of K24 million last Friday.
The budget comprising K15 million of Bougainville’s restoration and development grant and K9 million from other sources is geared towards investment and the consolidation of peace and development of the automous region.
But Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) finance minister Albert Punghau has advised that with only a month remaining to the end of this year, not all projects that received funding would be implemented and completed on time.
He added that a significant portion of the budgetary allocations have been towards meeting contractual obligations of the ABG.
Punghau said this meant that resources have to be made available to complete development project that have remained incomplete in the past three years because funds were re-directed to other priority areas.
He summarized the expenditure of the 2011 supplementary budget as follows:
• Headquarter operations for region wide projects (K6, 058,000)
• North Bougainville (K3,501,800)
• Central Bougainville (K2,719,300)
• South Bougainville (K2,720,900)
• Buka Ring Road Sealing (K5 million)
• Panguna Mine Negotions (K2 million)
• ABG Establishment Grant (K1 million)
• Panguna Peace Process (K1 million)
Punghau added that other strategic expenditure items in the budget include:
• Constituency Support Grant (K1,025.000)
• Bougainville People’s Congress Entitlements (K860,000)
• Bougainville Export Import Corporations (BEIC) shares purchase (K500,000)
• Panguna Mine Negotiations (K2,500,000)
• Support to Parliamentary Services and Bougainville Executive Council (K500,000)
• Completion of President’s Office (K701,000)
• Konnou Peace Process (K100,000)
This is the first supplementary budget to be approved by the Momis/Nisira government since their election to office in June last year.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Bougainville Election bill passed
BOUGAINVILLE Electoral Commission can now facilitate any elections of organizations under the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) after the Bougainville Election Amendement bill was passed by the region’s House of Representatives last Friday.
The bill, which received an absolute majority of votes from the members, was to allow an amendment to the existing law which governs the Bougainville Electoral Commission on its conduct of elections in Bougainville.
Bougainville president John Momis, when presenting the bill, said the law as it is, does not allow Bougainville electoral commission to conduct elections apart from the ABG elections in Bougainville.
“This is a very important bill. Bougainville Electoral Commission must have the authority to conduct election of the Council of Elders and other elections for organizations under ABG,” said Momis.
ABG member for Hagogohe Robert Sawa said in support of the bill that it was the right direction members were taking in voting for the bill.
“Bougainville Electoral Commission must be given the authority to ensure that all laws are abided to in an election on Bougainville,” said Sawa.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
SEMOSO GIVES TO REC
By T.TOVI
Regional Member for Bougainville Fidelis Semoso has given a cheque of K5000 to the Bougainville United Church Regional Executive Meeting.
He pledged his continual support to the United Church and thanked them for the work they were doing on Bougainville.
He says there are a lot of places and communities in which the United Church has had grate impact on in terms of their pastoral work and awareness.
Mr Semoso also challenged the United Church to reach out into the other parts of the region especially in the outer lying areas such as Catrets and the Fit Islands.
The REC meeting was hailed a success by the host circuit, Buka Interim Circuit at the closing dinner on Friday.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Dr Mathias Tovilu thanked the organizing team for their efforts and said that the one week meet had gone smoothly without and hiccups.
The next REC will be held in Arawa in 2014
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
DWU STUDENTS COMPLETE AWARNESS
By T.TOVI
A 12 member team comprising of Bougainville students studying at Divine Word University completed their awareness program at Bishop Wade Secondary.
The program which started on at Hutjena Secondary was part of their planned awareness in advocating for the importance of education.
The team told mainly grade 11 and 9 students about the importance of obtaining a high level of education.
John Taima a second year Business Studies student challenged students to be more responsible in their education.
He also told students that the region at its current state was in need for human resource mainly Bougainvillians.
The team also gave them a brief description of the different courses available at DWU and their entry requirements.
Fellow students from South and Central Bougainville are carrying out similar awareness programs and will be expected to be completed by the end of next week.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
GRADE EIGHTS SIT FOR EXAMS
By T.TOVI
More than 800 grade eights around Bougainville today set for their exams which started of this morning.
The one week exam which was canceled from its original date to the 21st of November commenced today with students sitting for their English paper.
With the introduction of the Outcome Based Educational system this will be the third lot of grade 8 students who will be graduating under the system.
CEO for the Division Of Education, Mr Bruno Babato in an interview told New Dawn FM that the new OBE system which had faced problems in its initial implementation stages is now functioning well.
He says the problem with it was that the current teachers had not had training on the new system which during 2011 academic year the problem was solved with many of them receiving training.
Mr Babato says many of the grade 8 students this year have performed well with the new system and expects it to improve in the coming year.
The one week exam will end on Friday where students will sit for their maths paper.
21.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Grade 8's Sit for Final Exam
By Aloysius Laukai in Arawa.
Grade Eight students throughout PNG are sitting for their final exams starting this morning.
Today they are sitting for English 1 and tomorrow English 2 Social Science and Math on Thursday.
Aloysius Laukai took this picture at Tupukas Primary School in Arawa where 29 students are sitting this morning at their school hall.
21.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Buka retailers prefer ENB
WHOLESALERS in Buka are complaining that business is dropping in Buka town because retailers are still going direct to East New Britain to order goods instead of getting them locally.
And some shops are facing a shut down because of the drop in business. One of the owners of a wholesale in Buka (named), who advised for security reasons could not disclose his name, said that he was now making arrangements to have his wholesale into a retail shop because of the fact that retail shops in Buka were not purchasing goods direct from them.
“They will only come to us if they need something that they don’t have on their counters,” he said.
On the other hand, a Guesthouse Survey Analysis that was conducted in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to provide summary of the issues that affect the development of this industry.
Some guest houses had complained of drop in business while others highlighted the tough times they were going through.
The survey looked at different components of interests that were important to guest houses and hotels as well as the Bougainville Tourism Industry Association.
The seven critical areas looked at were communication, infrastructure, awareness, water sanitation, training, electricity, law and order.
“These are very important areas that affect the development of the industry in Bougainville,” the report of the survey detailed. It highlights constraints as well.
21.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Price hikes affect people
PRICES of goods in Bougainville are being charged at 100 per cent mark up, especially in town and 110 per cent in rural villages.
This is the calculation from ordinary members of the public who feel these are too high.
They say the general population of Bougainville is feeling the pinch of the varying price hikes occurring almost every month.
Furthermore, the Autonomous Bougainville Government has now been called upon to seriously look into setting up a price controller so that prices of goods can be controlled.
Buka Island and its surrounding urban and rural population are the hardest hit because prices of goods and services have risen and vary from shop to shop.
The general population of Arawa and Buin are not too affected because Bougainville businessmen and women have already ventured out of PNG, to neighbouring Solomon Islands and Fiji, bringing in their locally made products to sell at a cheaper price in the region.
The ABG has been challenged to bring in Independent Consumer Competition Commission (ICCC), the regulatory body in charge of price control, so that the people of Bougainville are given a better choice than they currently have.
Because of price hike, many small operating tucker shops or trade stores are facing a shutdown in Buka, Kokopau, Wakunai, Tinputz, Panguna, Siwai and Buin.
“Price of goods have skyrocketed and many small tradestores in town are now facing tough times,” Peter Niaka told the Post-Courier.
Mr Niaka works for a small local company in Buka after transferring from East New Britain. He says prices of goods in Buka are double those of shops in Kokopo and Rabaul.
“Where is the price controller? The ABG should seriously step in to help the ordinary citizens of especially Buka town,” he said.
21.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Haku Day High needs help
MORE than 107 students from one of Bougainville’s newly established high schools in far north Buka Island faces a bleak 2012 school year if authorities do not fund the building of new classrooms and facilities.
Haku Day High School had its first intake this year. It was a result of the Haku people’s sheer hard work.
The school, financially crippled and struggling to operate, had “borrowed” a four-in-one classroom from the nearby Tanamalo Primary School this year to educate the pioneer grade nine intakes.
Already, the closure of the 2011 academic year for the school is nearing and still there is no sign of a new building being put up to cater for these grade nines when they elevate to grade 10 next year. There is also a threat to the new intakes, the second lot to come in 2012 – who may not have classrooms to continue their education.
The school board, its teachers and students are now facing a bleak future if education authorities and most importantly, the Autonomous Bougainville Government does not come to the aid of the school.
Its demise will greatly affect the parents of Haku, the biggest Constituency that make up the population of Bougainville.
On October 14, the school held a bazaar, which was only attended by the school students, parents and the teachers who raised less than K5000 as part of the school’s fundraising drive to build a classroom for the school.
There was no ABG representative or National MP present to show support to the school.
According to the pioneering four teachers, led by Sr Elizabeth Rokope, the school has not been run to standard because of financial difficulties and has operated on a snail’s pace from school fees paid by parents.
School authorities have told the Post- Courier that there was already a threat of the school shutting down because of no classrooms and facilities for the new intakes next year.
They said they wanted to build bush material houses to accommodate the second intakes next year and the current grade nine’s now using a primary school building.
This week is the budget week for the ABG when they sit in Parliament for the K15 million Supplementary Budget. Teachers are saying that all this school needs is about K2 million to build classrooms and teachers offices and ablution blocks to start off with.
“Our students are very eager to learn more. These problems are not teachers’ but those in power and in authority to make decisions. The school, located at Tanamalo is now a step closer for the people of Haku who have faith that this institution will create a better future for their children and most importantly these children will be the future leaders of this nation, Bougainville,” one of the teachers said.
21.11.2011
Source: The National
K80m bridges set for March opening
by KESSIE TADAP
WORTH more than K80 million, the Japanese aid-funded Bougainville coastal trunk road project of 15 bridges will be completed by March next year.
Work on the project started last year and, according to project consultants Chodai Consortium Ltd, they were on schedule.
The company said seven of the bridges had been completed and would be handed over to the Bougainville government by Dec 14.
The bridges are at south Bakanovi, Bove, Tuve, Barurui, Ratavi, Kasiava, Iraka, Koreva Kaskurus, Rotaovei, Warakapis, Irung and Rawa.
The bridges vary between 20m and 75m long.
All bridges were built using a span steel girder superstructure, while on most the steel pipe pile foundation was used as opposed to the spread foundation.
The construction of the bridges included proper drainage, stone support and sealing part of the roads where they joined the bridges on each end.
Japan International Cooperation Agency spokesman Yoshikazu Taniguchi said agreements would also be made for the maintenance and upgrade of the roads and bridges.
20.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Arawa Trip
Travelling between Arawa and Buka can sometimes be risky as this picture shows.
The car that New Dawn FM team were travelling to Arawa in yesterday had its tyre come off near the Cow paddock normally known as the Swamps near Arawa.
Lucky the driver did not panick. New Dawn FM will be broadcasting locally from Arawa soon.
The management managed to secure few houses for the Arawa staff.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai
20.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
System upgrade
By Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville listeners would be able to listen to New Dawn Fm on 95.3MHZ starting next Sunday.
Parts for the damaged equipment arrived last weel but is awaiting a technician from TE PNG to install the system.
New Dawn FM also wishes to announce to its listeners and viewers that attempts by NBC to broadcast on our frequency was also stopped because we protested TO NICTA because 95.5 was very close to our 95.3.
We are already looking for a house to set up our office in Arawa then later next year in Buin.
18.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
PNG lacks economic independence: PM
By TODAGIA KELOLA
PAPUA New Guinea’s challenge now is to be economically independent, says Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
Speaking in Rabaul yesterday during the launching of the Mataure Rabaul Microfinance Limited (MRML), Mr O’Neill said the country has had political independence, among other things, but he questioned if that had changed the lives of the ordinary people, adding that only a few people had benefitted.
He said the 2012 National Election was far more important than previous elections as it should ensure that PNG had economic independence so that by 2014, the country would have enormous wealth.
“…..but if we continue to elect irresponsible governments or if we continue to elect corrupt governments, we will miss that opportunity,” he said.
Mr O’Neill said that PNG must learn from previous projects in the country which included world class mines such as the Panguna mine in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the current Ok Tedi and Lihir mines.
“The revenues that we have got from these mines have been mismanaged as such that we don’t even have any money now,” he said.
He said that was why the Government was trying to make sure the little resources that it got money from to make up the budget was distributed evenly around the country.
Mr O’Neill said PNG must learn from the mismanagement of revenues from resource projects over the years and the Government believed strongly that they must make sure that they put a law around the management of these funds.
The Prime Minister said the Government would be setting up a fund management law in the next session of Parliament.
He said it was important that PNG had to have a law to manage funds and reports could be made every three months.
Mr O’Neill told those who gathered at the launch yesterday that he had nominated former PM and Kokopo MP Sir Rabbie Namaliu to head the fund.
18.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville students to conduct awareness
BOUGAINVILLE students of the Divine Word University will conduct social and political awareness for the people in Bougainville.
Bougainville House of Representatives speaker Andrew Miriki said funding from the Bougainville Youth Foundation was made available after the students presented a proposal on their intentions to conduct awareness.
“Local business houses, schools and individuals had also assisted with funds that would go towards the students’ transport, meals and accommodation needed during the
exercise,” Miriki said.
He said issues they would focus on included law and order, autonomy arrangement, HIV/AIDS and briefings on courses studied at DWU.
Miriki said the awareness exercise began this week with students from South Bougainville carrying out awareness at Buin secondary, Tonu and Bana high schools.
“Likewise, the teams of North and Central Bougainville will conduct their awareness as per their schedules. Their target population is high school and secondary school students,” Miriki said.
17.11.2011
Source: ESBC
ESBC press release 2011118
Autonomous Bougainville President Claims for „New Deal“:
Panguna must be opened!
On November 10th, 2011 all major local stakeholders in the abandoned Panguna Mine met in Buka for a meeting of the Panguna Management Consultative Committee. This has been further important step towards re-opening the giant Panguna mine.
Unfortunately not all Bougainvilleans do understand the island’s situation in general yet: The debts of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and its government (ABG) are already exceeding 1 billion Kina now. This means round about a K5,000 debt per each Bougainvillean head – babies and grandmas included! Such a huge amount of money can only be paid back from giant income. Only professional mining operated by a big company can earn this – copra, cocoa or tourism alone cannot afford this. That’s for sure.
Brief: Bougainville’s financial situation is absolutely desperate and even gets worse every day! Bougainville’s President John Momis knows this very well: “It is for this very reason that as leaders we all must forge ahead together and deal with tough issues and make tough decisions. Panguna mine must be opened!”
Bougainvilleans should be very happy that Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) are still interested in resuming mining on the island. Running one of the biggest copper mines in the world is absolutely not a job for people without any skills. In so far all Bougainvilleans – ABG, Landowners and Me’ekamui – should be extremely interested in sustainable co-operation with experienced mining companies like Rio Tinto and BCL who are able to provide modern and environmental caring mining on the ground.
But, if there should not be legal security for BCL on the ground, the ESBC will not accept any investment of 6 billion Kina into Panguna operations! In this case the ESBC would claim to sell-off BCL to Chinese or other interested investors. ESBC President Axel G. Sturm says: “Don’t forget: This represents an investment of 30,000 Kina per Bougainvillean head. BCL is ready to shoulder this although they lost more than billion Kina due to the Bougainville Crisis that – as you know – was mainly caused by discord amongst locals.”
Mr. Sturm: “I think that it’s extremely generous of BCL to maintain its fidelity to Bougainville and its citizens and to provide support more than two decades of non-earning one single Kina.” Mr. Sturm appeals to all Bougainvilleans to stand unanimously together: It’s encouraging that all local stakeholders and Me’ekamui get together to finally resolve their problems of the past!”
Further important quotations:
Mr. Blaise Iruinu-Chairman, PMCC:
Emphasized “ that the much talked about re-opening of Panguna must at the first instance address the developmental needs of the major stakeholders of Panguna mine lease areas"
Hon. Michael Oni MHR, Minister for Natural Resources (Mining):
"the Autonomous Region (has to) move forward to develop economically to be able to meet one of the requirements of BPA, i.e. the region must be able to sustain itself economically in its move towards Referendum in year 2015.”
He emphasized “that PMCC is made up of major stakeholders that have one way or the other important role to play when it comes to the re-opening of Panguna mine, which is very crucial for the future economic recovery of Bougainville."
Discussions transpired and the general position on the re-opening was obvious and both ABG and the Executive Committee Members of PMCC fully supported and endorsed that Panguna mine must be re-opened.
Mr Michael Pariu, Deputy Chairman PMCC; Panguna Landowner Association (PLA):
He went on to emphasize what the President had earlier call for a “New Deal” for Panguna Landowners and the people of Bougainville saying that this is the message that Panguna landowners have been hearing from the majority of the people of Bougainville."
Mr. Lawrence Daveona; Secretary PLA / RMTL:
i) Give the blessing to the National Government to approve BCL’s application for the Extension of SML lease for further 21 years. In giving this blessing we should lay down some conditions that BCL and the National Government must abide by before this extension is gazette.
ii) That BCL must pay up-front say between K1 to K2 Billion as a conciliatory compensation payment. This amount is insignificant as the SML license will now be for 21 years and BCL will be able to recoup its monies within 3 to 5 years after commencement of operations.
Please read here the complete PMCC minutes !
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Public Accounts
Bougainville businesses accessing government monies have until tomorrow 4:06 pm to obtain payments for their services rendered.
This is because the National Department of Finance and Treasury closes its public accounts tomorrow for the Christmas period.
The closure of the government finance office effectively stops all payments due to creditors and businesses involved in government projects.
The government accounts re-open for business in March 2012.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
JSB
The date for the next Joint Supervisory Board (JSB) meeting between the PNG and Autonomous Bougainville governments has been set.
Members of the JSB will meet on December 5 in Kavieng, New Ireland Province.
But ABG administration sources say the venue for the meeting has not been agreed to, by Bougainville president Dr. John Momis.
According to information, Mr Momis questioned why the JSB would be in Kavieng when the province is not closely involved with the affairs of Bougainville.
Mr Momis has suggested that the meeting be held in Port Moresby or Bougainville for the convenience of all parties to the JSB.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
ABG website
Autonomous Bougainville Government information can now be disseminated worldwide thanks to the assistance of members of the Bougainville Students Association of Divine Word University.
Parliament speaker Andrew Miriki said yesterday that the ABG will now have its own website.
Mr Miriki says the website will help promote and make information available on the ABG and its parliament.
He said the website which is currently being developed, already has its home page completed.
The homepage features headlines linking internet viewers to knowing more about ABG, receiving the latest government news, showcase photos of the region and information on the ABG 2012 working calendar.
Mr Miriki however did not say when the website is expected to be completed.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
K1 billion ABG debts
AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government is struggling to repay administrative debts of up to one billion kina that it had incurred backdating to the operations of the Bougainville interim government in the late 1990s.
ABG Finance minister Albert Punghau said as a result, K5 million would have to be set aside from the K15 million Restoration and Development grant to pay off some of these debts.
He said ABG owed a lot of private businesses money for services rendered like guesthouse accommodation and transport fuel.
Mr Punghau said that is why he would have to access K5 million of the K15 million restoration and development grant.
He added that some amount of the 2010 Restoration and Development grant had also been spent on settling outstanding ABG debts.
These included payments for ABG election related costs of K2.1 million, school fee subsidy of K2.5 million, K1 million for parliamentary services and outstanding contract obligations of K4 million.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
BSP ATM woes
By Aloysius Laukai
Customers of BSP’s Bougainville branch are frustrated at the continuous overcrowding of BSP Bougainville’s Automatic Telling Machines (ATM) booth in Buka town.
Concerned customers told New Dawn FM that they are also frustrated at the continuous technical problems that affect the operations of the teller machines.
This often resulted in customers having to wait for hours which caused a lot of inconvenience for customers who have had to travel long distances to Buka to do banking.
The customers are appealing to the management of BSP to increase the number of ATMs to ensure customers have easy access to their money.
They have also appealed that BSP look at establishing another branch at Arawa to cater for customers from the Central and South Bougainville.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
House Meets on Friday
By Aloysius Laukai
MEMBERS of the Bougainville House of Representatives will meet on Friday to consider a supplementary appropriation bill on the expenditure of the K15 million Restoration and Development grant received last week.
Bougainville Executive Council will meet on Thursday to review the supplementary budget before it is tabled in the ABG parliament by finance minister Albert Punghau.
Punghau confirmed that the money has been allocated according to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) budget process.
The process involves regional committees of the North, Central and South Bougainville determining the priorities for their region.
He said a a preliminary breakup of the budget has been completed with K3 million each to Central and South Bougainville and K4 million to North Bougainville.
The remaining K5 million will be for administration overhead costs said Punghau.
He said in terms of projects, health, education, infrastructure and feeder roads were the main priorities identified by the regional committees.
Punghau however added that ABG would need to find a savings of K5 million within this year’s grant, to settle outstanding debts.
He said the money would be settle outstanding ABG debts like the payment of entitlements for members of the Bougainville People’s Congress and constituency support grants from some members.
17.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Bougainville’s first CHW school
By Aloysius Laukai
PREPARATIONS are underway to establish the first Community Health Workers (CHW) school for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The proposed Tanamalo CHW school will be located at Tanamalo in the Haku constituency of North Bougainville.
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) said the school will be managed by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in partnership with Bougainville Health division and the National Department of Health.
As part of the preparation, a delegation of Bougainville health and community representatives led by Bougainville vice president Patrick Nisira spent two days in New Ireland Province to study the set-up of the Lemakot CHW school.
ABG member for Haku James Beani said their aim was to acquire ideas on facilities, infrastructure, organizational, financial and management structures and training.
He said Lemakot CHW school is a Catholic run health school and is financially supported by the National Department of Health.
Beani said the trip was productive as the delegation was able to identify issues that can be avoided when commencing on the proposed Tanamalo CHW school.
Beani and Nisira were accompanied by Division of Health CEO Dr. Anthony Pumpara, Buka General Hospital director of medical services Dr. Barnabas Matanu and representatives from the Haku constituency and Wesleyan Methodist church.
17.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville owes K1billion ( = AU$ 447,820,000.00)
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government is struggling to repay administrative debts of up to K1 billion it had incurred since the operations of the Bougainville interim government in the late 1990s.
Bougainville finance minister Albert Punghau said K5 million would have to be set aside from the K15 million restoration and development grant from the national government to pay off some of the debt.
“We have a real problem. These debts had been incurring progressively up to the present day,’’ he said.
“We owe a lot to private businesses for services rendered, like guesthouse accommodation and transport fuel.”
He said funds were also needed for the Bougainville house of representative and executive government operations which cost K12 million a year.
“That is why I need to go into the K15 million because there is no other money,’’ he said.
“The money that the national government gives is the recurrent unconditional grant that is used to pay wages for the public service. I cannot get that and pay off our debts.”
He said Bougainville’s internal revenue of K9 million was not enough to offset the debts.
Debts included ABG election-related costs of K2.1 million, school fee subsidy of K2.5 million, K1 million for parliamentary services and outstanding contract obligations of K4 million.
ESBC says: Mining will resolve Bougainville's debt problems within a few years ! Copra, Cocoa, small scale mining or tourism alone cannot ! The ABG and all stakeholders concerned should reflect on this ! Every day witout professional mining is a lost day for Bougainville and the Bougainvilleans because of increasing debts that will lead to more poverty and dependence !
17.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Copra prices rise
By ALEX MUNME
SANKAMAP Exports, one of the only two locally owned copra exporting companies in the region, has to be praised for the current increase in copra price in Buka.
The other company is Kieta commodity Exports based in Kieta.
This is because they export direct to international markets and their price is controlled by the world copra market. Sankamap Exports is currently buying copra at an average price of K1165 per ton.
Managing Director of Sankamap Exports Robert Critchley said although the world market controlled copra price, meaning it may change daily but his company was here to maintain price stability, create an option for hardworking copra producers, set standards in copra quality so that Bougainville’s copra was in high demand in the world market.
Mr Critchley, whose mother is from Pororan and father from Melbourne, Australia, said his company’s long term plan was to help his people. In fact he has dreamed of coming home one day to help his own people when he was 10 years old. For him, it’s a dream come true. His motto is to put Bougainville back on the world map. As part of his company’s plan, has trained three local people to start their own copra buying points in Haku, Hahalis and Tinputs. His company came into operation a few months ago and so far has exported about 800 tonnes of copra direct to the Philippines.
His company has incentives for production of quality copra.
17.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville plans health school
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
PREPARATIONS are underway to establish the first school for community health workers in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The proposed school will be located at Tanamalo in the Haku constituency of North Bougainville.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government said the school would be managed by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in partnership with Bougainville Health division and the National Department of Health.
A delegation of Bougainville health and community representatives led by Bougainville vice president Patrick Nisira spent two days in New Ireland to study the set-up of the Lemakot school.
ABG member for Haku James Beani said their aim was to acquire ideas on facilities, infrastructure, organisational, financial and management structures and training.
He said the Lemakot CHW school was a Catholic-run health school and financially supported by the National Department of Health.
Beani said the delegation was able to identify problems that could be avoided at Tanamalo.
Beani and Nisira were accompanied by Division of Health CEO Dr Anthony Pumpara, Buka General Hospital director of medical services Dr Barnabas Matanu and representatives from the Haku constituency and Wesleyan Methodist church.
17.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Education elects board
By Melanie Toliken UPNG Journalism student.
THE Bougainville Executive Council has appointed new members of the Bougainville Education Board.
The newly appointed members were carefully selected from all stakeholders, representing different organisations and parts of the region.
The BEB is the highest decision making body in the Autonomous Bougainville Government as far as education policies, activities and services are concerned.
BEC has directed the new members of the Bougainville Education Board and the Division of Education to develop a Bougainville Education Act.
The new members of the BEB are: Bruno Babato-CEO/ chairman; Joseph Noro- State; Peter Toliken- State; Lucy Travertz -State; Jonathan Ageva- PNGTA; Martin Takali- PNGTA; Simon Koraikove- churches; Omepa Misirari- churches; Frank Matapau - Churches; Roslyine Gatana- LLG; Peter Dosti-Community; Nicolas Mangona-Community; and John Masiu-Community.
17.11.2011
Source: The National
O’Neill opens latest luxury hotel in POM
By BOSORINA ROBBY
DOWNTOWN Port Moresby came alive with a dazzling array of fireworks on Tuesday night to mark the official opening of the Grand Papua Hotel, a 20-storey luxury hotel owned by Steamships Trading Co.
The hotel is located between Douglas and Mary streets, where the iconic Papua Hotel of yesteryears once stood. The formal opening was led by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
The Grand Papua was built at the cost of about K200 million and will employ close to 200 staff.
O’Neill congratulated the shareholders, management and staff of Steamships, which he said remained a household name that had contributed a lot to the development of PNG.
He thanked the company for its commitment to invest in all sectors of PNG, which had generated jobs for many people.
O’Neill said the government was committed to providing conducive business climate to the private sector.
He said reforms in tax, land registration and the Investment Promotion Authority’s online registration, should be much easier for all.
“This is vital for us and we will also be issuing a stable and practical tax regime because we have to plan for the long-term investments that will come or have already come in.
“I want to assure the private sector that we want to work closely with you.
“Congratulations, and I am very happy to be here in a hotel that is a world-class in its own right,” he said.
Guest were attired in a fashion similar to any Hollywood events, with the women decked out in elegant fashions and the men looking splendid in their black ties and suits.
The guests were prominent businessmen and women from the financial, construction, food and beverage sector of the business industry, as well as other service providers and stakeholders.
Special guests included Sir Adrian Swire and Sir Michael Bromley, the major shareholders of Steamship and company chairman William Rothery.
Senior management staff of various divisions of Steamships were also present.
The hotel will be under the stewardship of David Martens, who said he hoped to train his staff with the necessary skill to take over from him when his term expires.
Rothery said the Grand Papua reflected Steamships’ continued commitment to invest in PNG.
He said the economy had been better and the future brighter than ever.
“The Grand Papua Hotel represents prosperous times and Steamships is proud of contributing to PNG’s history,” Rothery said.
He said this was a new chapter for Steamships and looked forward to other new chapters ahead.
At 20 storeys high, the Grand Papua Hotel is the tallest skyscraper in downtown, of which four storeys are car-parks from the basement up.
It also has spa and massage parlour, hair salon, two 85-seater conference rooms, staff office and other amenities.
The rest of the floors house 161 deluxe and executive rooms, gym, business centre, bar and restaurant.
With marbled staircases and floors and customised wallpapers and mirrors, the hotel was rated as “6-star” by the guests.
The new Grand Papua Hotel situated in downtown Port Moresby's business district - just two steps from the Bougainville Copper Limited Head Quarter and next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel where BCL's Annual General Meetings used to take place until now.
17.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Grand opening
By ESTELLA CHEUNG
A SPECTECULAR display of fireworks on Tuesday night in Port Moresby was the grand highlight to the grand opening of the Grand Papua Hotel.
More than 100 people attended the hotel’s grand opening including Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who had just arrived that afternoon from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Grand Papua Hotel has staircases of marble leading up to each floor with a long, clear view of the street, the Monian Tower and the United Church building across the road. The conference and meeting rooms are spacious with a contemporary arrangement. The dining area that was on display was equally impressive, as well as the spacious outdoor pool area.
Master of ceremony Brent St Hill said the Grand Papua Hotel is a combination of many years of concepts designs and construction and a large number of people of many different walks of life.
“These people have come from within the Steamships Trading Company and associated companies that have worked to put this magnificent building up,” he said.
Mr St Hill said from the groundbreaking which took place in May 2008, the residents of Port Moresby and the people of PNG have seen the Grand Papua Hotel grow from the ground level to the 16th floor to become Port Moresby’s tallest building, boasting panoramic view, sea views that is, from all guest rooms.
The Grand Papua Hotel will be utilising a paperless system where guests will be checked in by friendly staff using tablet technology.
“The Grand Papua Hotel has several different options for meetings and small events. In order for this to happen, the Grand Papua Hotel is led by a team of international industry professionals to ensure our guests are pampered,” he said. General Manager of the Grand Papua Hotel, David Martens said he was proud about the work his staff had done for the grand opening and spoke highly of them. He said the Hotel officially opens on December 1 for business.
Chairman of Steamships Trading Company, Bill (Wilson) Rothery acknowledged the attendance of Sir Adrian Swire, who represented a majority shareholder in Steamships; and Sir Michael Bromley.
He said Sir Adrian first visited PNG in 1957 and Sir Michael arrived in PNG in 1956. Sir Michael has now made his home in the Highlands of PNG.
Both the Swire’s and Mike Bromley have shown great perseverance and faith in PNG over the past 60 years.
17.11.2011
Source: The National
Writer to fund library building in Bougainville
PROGRESS is being made on a New Zealand-funded library being built in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The library was inspired by New Zealand writer Lloyd Jones, whose award winning book, Mister Pip, is set in Bougainville.
It aims to provide books and education for those denied during the civil war.
A Volunteer Service Abroad member, Barry Binding, has just spent six weeks establishing a building management plan for the library, which is to be built in the grounds of Arawa High School.
He said the trip helped cement the support of locals as they could to see what the library would look like once it was completed.
“When I was there last time, I made a 1/25th scale model of the library so people could see what it was going to look like.”
The materials needed to build the library are being sourced in Bougainville.
16.11.2011
Source: Islands Business
POLITICS: PNG/Solomons joint cabinet to meet in Bougainville
Beginning of a Pan Pacific Economic Union?
Alfred Sasako
Solomon Islands and its near neighbour, Papua New Guinea, plan to hold a joint Cabinet meeting on Bougainville in December, the first for any two nations in the region to do so.
No date has been set for the meeting. But in the meantime, preparatory work is already underway, including the upgrading of the Aropa Airstrip on Bougainville.
Prime Minister O’Neill told his Solomon Islands counterpart, Prime Minister Danny Philip during a recent visit to PNG that the idea of a cabinet meeting on Bougainville was to show support for what the authorities on the island are doing.
“My cabinet will join you,” was the prompt response from Prime Minister Philip
Apart from the meeting, PNG has begun pouring money into Bougainville, to ensure the past is not repeated.
Waigani has allocated K500 million for the economic development of Bougainville over the next five years.
The new K100 million a year funding arrangement, founded on PNG’s new-found mineral resources boom, starts this year.
In their discussions, both leaders acknowledged the importance of socio-economic development on Bougainville and that joint support across the Solomon Sea is just as vital.
They believe the presence of government ministers from both Solomon Islands and PNG on Bougainville would bolster confidence of the people and leadership on the island.
While things have quietened down, security concerns on Bougainville’s sea border with Solomon Islands remains.
These concerns are real, given what had happened during the Bougainville crisis in the mid-80s.
There were border clashes between the Solomon Islands’ field force and the PNG Defence Force pursuing Bougainvillean militants. Several civilians died in these raids.
As well, there had been allegations of gun-smuggling into Bougainville from the Solomon Islands’ side.
Both leaders are hopeful the joint meeting would pave the way for greater cooperation with authorities on Bougainville, particularly in addressing the security concerns.
The move by the two largest members of the MSG sub-grouping has other important implications as well.
For example, it could be seen as the cradle for the birth of the privately-talked about Pan Pacific Economic Union (PPEU), a concept very close to the heart of Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, Philip, even before his election to the top post in August 2010.
Philip told friends that unless and until Pacific Islands countries are “economically independent”, living standards in the islands will never improve. “In fact, it will only get worse,” he said.
He sees the Pan Pacific Economic Union (PPEU) as the only way out.
In a speech in Port Moresby during his recent visit, he departed from a prepared text and suggested that PNG’s newly acquired powerhouse status should be exploited for Melanesian gain.
“I can say that without Papua New Guinea, there is no Melanesia. PNG is Melanesia,” he said.
Philip’s statement is based on the fact that PNG has become a donor of sorts since 1997, when under the leadership of the late Bill Skate, it signed a K40 million budget support assistance package to help Solomon Islands.
The support, heavily criticised by Australia at the time, was in recognition of the help Honiara provided to Bougainvilleans fleeing the island during the Bougainville crisis.
Part of the money was subsequently used to pay for Solomon Islands students studying in tertiary institutions in PNG up to the end of this year.
PNG used the balance to build the Solomon Islands first ever owned Chancery in Port Moresby.
During Philip’s recent visit, PNG agreed to continue the budget support assistance by announcing a K20 million a year (about SBD60 million) over the next five years. The new aid arrangement, which starts next year, will cover education as well as funding economic growth centres (EGCs) across Solomon Islands.
Preliminary work has begun on these EGCs on Malaita. More will be established in other provinces from next year.
Both Prime Ministers also spoke of the growing economic ties between their two countries, urging officials to facilitate processes for encouraging investments.
PNG, for example, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in different sectors in Solomon Islands, including the hotel industry as well as the palm oil industry.
The Heritage Park Hotel— the premiere hotel in Honiara—is an investment from PNG.
Prime Minister O’Neill appealed to his counterpart to encourage Solomon Islands companies to invest in PNG. He believes the economic boom being experienced in PNG should be shared with other Melanesian countries.
Philip later visited the US$18 billion LNG Project refinery site outside Port Moresby. There, he was told the refinery is due to open in February 2014.
At the peak of the construction phase, the project will employ some 10,500 skilled and semi-skilled workers, a commodity PNG does not have.
PNG is short of manpower resources and will certainly be looking to other Melanesian neighbours to help fill the shortage.
With a joint cabinet meeting being held there, could Bougainville, once the headache for Solomon Islands and PNG, provide the birthplace for a Pan Pacific Economic Union (PPEU)—a concept that will revolutionise the region’s political and economic makeup?
If the PPEU concept is developed further under the wings of the five-member Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the sub-regional grouping of PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, it could have serious implications for the Pacific Islands Forum.
Increasingly, leaders feel the Pacific Islands Forum is gradually losing its grip on issues critical to the well-being of Pacific Islands nations.
The birth of PPEU could very well be the death-bed for PIF. Only time will tell.
16.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
ABG to consider grant bill
By Melanie Toliken UPNG Journalism student
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government will convene an urgent sitting this Friday to consider a supplementary appropriation bill on the expenditure of the K15 million Restoration and Development Grant received from the National Government.
ABG House of Representatives Speaker Andrew Miriki has issued a notice for an urgent meeting to be held on November 18, 2011.
The notice was issued on advice from the ABG President John Momis for the government to consider a supplementary appropriation bill on the expenditure of the K15 million Restoration and Development Grant received from the National Government.
The office of the President confirmed that the Bougainville Executive Council would meet on Thursday, Nov 17, to consider the bill before it is tabled by the Minister of Finance Albert Punghau on Nov 18.
Mr Miriki requested the President to table a policy submission to inform the BEC regarding the funding status of the ABG and for the council to approve an allocation of the K5.9 million from the Restoration and Development Grant to meet 2011 funding requirements. This is associated with policy directives and the recurrent costs of running the Bougainville Legislature.
16.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Divisions changed to Depts
By Melanie Toliken UPNG Journalism student
THE Bougainville Executive Council has made a policy decision to departmentalise all divisions in the Bougainville Administration.
There are about 16 divisions that had been elevated onto department status. This also means that the current title of “chief executive officer” will now be changed and the head of the specific ABG Departments will be called “secretary” at the executive level 3.
The decision was made by the Bougainville Cabinet in late October and this means that the ABG Administration will no longer have divisions but departments.
In 2010, the division of mining was the only division in the administration that was departmentalised.
The education division is the second in line. The division of education like all the other divisions, will now be called “Department of Education”.
This is part of the drawdown of powers under the Bougainville Constitution and the Bougainville Peace Agreement which is now being implemented by the ABG and the National Government.
16.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
CHIEF THANKS ABG
Mianopo village council of elders chief Elijah Ture has thanked the ABG for their continual support to the peace and reconciliation efforts in the Wisai and Konnou constituency.
He says that now a lot of the fighting which was going on has stopped and many of the people in the area are grateful.
Due to fighting in the area a lot of the basic services were denied and most of the people were suffering.
Mr Ture has called on other areas in South Bougainville who are still fighting to put down their guns and reconcile.
He says this is the only we Bougainville is to regain its status and develop.
Mr Ture says the ABG through its support and funding has helped the people of the Wisai and Konnou area.
He hopes for more similar work to be carried out in the future.
16.11.2011
Source: The National
ABG House to consider supplementary budget
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
MEMBERS of the Bougainville House of Representatives meets on Friday to consider a supplementary appropriation bill on the expenditure of the K15 million restoration and development grant received last week.
Bougainville executive council meets on Thursday to review the supplementary budget before it is tabled in the ABG parliament by finance minister Albert Punghau.
Punghau confirmed that the money had been allocated according to the Autonomous Bougainville Government budget process.
The process involves regional committees of the North, Central and South Bougainville determining the priorities for their region.
“We have done a preliminary break-up of K3 million each to Central and South Bougainville and K4 million to North Bougainville.
“The remaining K5 million will be for administration overhead costs,” Punghau said.
He said in terms of projects, health, education, infrastructure and feeder roads were the main priorities identified by the regional committees.
Punghau said the ABG would need to find a savings of K5 million in the grant to settle outstanding debts.
“We will need to find this much money to settle outstanding ABG debts like the payment of entitlements for members of the Bougainville People’s Congress and constituency support grants from some members,” he said.
16.11.2011
Source: The National
Semoso warns of withdrawing K5m road funding
REGIONAL Member for Bougainville Fidelis Semoso has warned he will raise a five million kina return cheque to the national finance and treasury department if the Autonomous Bougainville Administration continues to delay starting work on maintenance of roads on Buka Island.
He has given the administration until Friday to start work.
“If the administration is too slow, I will raise a cheque for that money back to the national treasury and have the Central Supply and Tenders board release the contract,” Semoso warned.
He said yesterday K5 million was released recently for the sealing of the next 4km of the Buka ring road, maintenance of Buka town roads, Lonahan to Hanahan and Gagan to Kohiso roads in North Bougainville.
“It has been three weeks since the money has been released and I am still waiting for the Bougainville administration to receive a tender,” Semoso said.
“It is frustrating when the funding has been made available and the actual work is slow.”
Semoso said since last week, his officers had been unsuccessful in finding out the cause of the Bougainville administration’s delay.
16.11.2011
Source: The National
Radio Bougainville reaches out to rural listeners
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
GOVERNMENT information can now be relayed throughout Buka Island and the atolls in North Bougainville and parts of Central Bougainville after work on upgrading the National Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Bougainville was completed last Friday.
National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) engineering and technical services executive director Robin Vuvut said work on increasing the station’s transmission from 300W to 1,000W was aimed at ensuring better coverage of the autonomous region.
He said two teams had been deployed to the region, with installation work being carried out in Buka and Arawa.
Vuvut said the project, which had taken a year to reach Bougainville, “is part of a nationwide rollout of NBC broadcasting services, under the leadership of new managing director Memafu Kafera”.
“Bougainville is the third location to have its equipment upgraded after Kavieng and Rabaul.
“Eventually we will increase transmission to Buin and other districts in South Bougainville once a feasibility on existing communication towers in the area is completed and depending on the funds we have,” Vuvut said.
He said as part of the upgrade, NBC was now negotiating with the National Information and Communication Technology Authority to buy three frequencies for its three broadcast services of Karai, Tribe FM and Radio Bougainville.
“Local service, which is now being heard on 100.1FM, will relocate to 95.5FM, Karai service will be on 90.7FM and Tribe will be heard on 92FM,” Vuvut said.
Vuvut said Radio Bougainville would begin broadcast on 95.5FM this week however the change in frequency for Radio Bougainville has the management of community radio station New Dawn FM fearful that there could be interference with transmission of both stations.
“NBC’s bandwidth is too close to New Dawn’s 95.3FM and there may be interferences on both our stations. I urge NICTA to review its allotment of bandwidths to avoid this inconvenience,” Aloysius Laukai, managing director of New Dawn FM, said.
16.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
NZ funded library on Bougainville progressing well
Progress is being made on a New Zealand funded library being built in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville.
The library was inspired by New Zealand writer Lloyd Jones, whose award winning book, Mister Pip, is set in Bouganville.
It aims to provide books and education for those denied it during the civil war.
A Volunteer Service Abroad member, Barry Binding, has just spent six weeks establishing a building management plan for the library, which is to be built in the grounds of Arawa High School.
He says the trip helped cement the support of locals as they could to see what the library will look like once it is completed.
“When I was there last time I made a 1/25th scale model of the library so people could see what it was going to look like. So this time there is lots of support and people are really keen to get it done and are pretty excited”
The materials needed to build the library are being sourced in Bougainville to help support the local economy.
Mr Binding says he’ll return to the province in February by which time the timber should be ready.
15.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier BREAKING NEWS !
Bougainville copper to be reviewed
PREPARATIONS for the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement are now underway. But an announcement is expected to be made on the review package once the Joint Supervisory Body meeting dates are set.
ABG President John Momis could not provide further details of the review of the BCA but advised the JSB, the main avenue of negotiations for the National Government and the ABG, should be held once the stakeholders involved set a date.
Bougainville Affairs Minister Steven Pirika Kama also advised the date has not been set and once preparations are set, the responsible authorities involved will be advised. The delay of the JSB meeting since March this year is also the setback to the drawdown of all the powers being talked about as this is the body that deals with all issues on Bougainville and they have not sat since March this year. But according to the ABG leaders, much has been achieved since the last JSB meeting and more is expected once all preparations are in place.
15.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Gulf man seeks help in Buka
“HOME is where the heart is,” so the saying goes.
For Andrew Maiovo (pictured), who has spent almost 42 years in Bougainville, the Gulf province still holds a place in his heart and is where he would like to be laid to rest come his final hour.
This is Andrew Maiovo, 76, from Gulf Province – Wabo.
The man is in dire need of help from his people of Gulf or anyone that wants to help.
At his age in Buka and living like a nomad, Maiovo now wants a ticket for him and his daughter, seven-years-old return to his Gulf Province.
He came to Bougainville in 1969 as an employee of Panguna Copper Mine, working as a carpenter. He was the supervisor at that time and as a young man, he found himself a love home – a wife from Wakunai who gave him three siblings.
The Bougainville crisis ended his dream of having a building construction company as he fell sick and intimidated while finding refuge at his wife’s Wakunai area. His wife died during the crisis and he migrated further north in search of a better life, away from the social problems in Central Bougainville.
He found himself another life – a second family, another woman from Lonahan village who also died several years later.
Moiovo is now a nomad in Buka with no help from his children, no word from his family back in Gulf and now and now he wants to head back that way to prepare himself for anything.
Moiovo wants to spend the last years of his life in his home village and the last thing he wants is to die in Bougainville and face the consequences of being buried on someone else’s soil.
He wants to return to Gulf and wants a ticket - that’s all he wants, to return to his home town.
15.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
PNGSDP helps Ruruvu
By RICHARD KELEBI
COMMUNITIES living in Wakunai District Central Bougainville can look forward to improved health facilities in the coming months following the opening of a new staff house for the Ruruvu Sub Health Center recently.
The new staff accommodation is the first phase of an existing infrastructure upgrading program of the United Church Bougainville Region Health Services, which is supported by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP).
Camillus Midire, the Chief Program Officer of PNGSDP was in Ruruvu recently with a delegation from the company to launch the staff accommodation and also visit other projects in the area, such as the road upgrade and mini hydro project.
The new staff accommodation is phase one of the project that has been completed. Other existing buildings at the sub health center would also be maintained in the coming months. Funding for this program is provided by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd.
PNGSDP is also providing similar support to other major churches in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Joel Kessy, Chairman of the Ruruvu Health Center thanked PNGSDP for the support.
“We are pleased to received such support and thank PNGSDP for it.”
Mr Midire said PNGSDP was pleased to support the work of Churches in the region and such project is the communities’ own initiative as they set their own priorities and work through their respective churches.
“In Bougainville, we have a big program that supports the work of churches, where the churches and the communities identify projects,, set their own priorities and we support these priorities,” he said.
15.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Ceasefire deal for south Bougainville
Waring factions in the troubled Konnou Constituency of South Bougainville will soon sign a ceasfire agreement with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to restore peace to their area.
The compromise deal is a result of consultation between the so called Me'ekamui Leader, Damien Koike and the ABG Konnou Taskforce Committee ..with the signing set for November the 29th.
Presenter: Augustine Kinna
Speaker: John Momis, Autonomous Bougainville President
Listen here !
15.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Judge suspension revoked, ending PNG constitutional crisis
The Papua New Guinea government has pulled back from the brink of a constitutional crisis by revoking its move to suspend the country's top judge.
Late yesterday the acting Prime Minister Belden Namah rescinded the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia.
The Supreme Court responded to the original suspension by ordering the arrest of Mr Namah and the Attorney General Allan Marat on contempt charges.
The two men handed themselves into police yesterday and were formally arrested, charged, then released on bail.
Later their lawyers went to the Supreme Court in an effort to have the charges set aside.
But Sir Salamo, the judge they had sought to suspend, deferred the matter until this morning and ordered the two ministers to appear in court.
Then, at the end of an extraordinary day Mr Namah announced the Chief Justice's suspension had been revoked for the good of the country.
Presenter:Belden Namah, acting Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea
Listen here !
15.11.2011
Source: The National
Wakunai sub-health centre opens house
COMMUNITIES living in Wakunai district, Central Bougainville, can look forward to improved health facilities following the opening of a new staff house for the Ruruvu sub-health centre.
The new staff accommodation is the first phase of an existing infrastructure upgrading programme of the United church Bougainville Region Health Services, which is supported by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP).
PNGSDP chief programme officer Camillus Midire was in Ruruvu recently with a delegation from the company to launch the staff accommodation and visit other projects in the area, such as the road upgrade and mini hydro project.
The new staff accommodation is phase one of the project that has been completed.
Other existing buildings at the sub-health centre will be maintained in the coming months.
Funding for this programme is provided by PNGSDP.
PNGSDP is providing similar support to other major churches in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Ruruvu Health Centre chairman Joel Kessy thanked PNGSDP for the support.
“We are pleased to received such support and thank PNGSDP.”
Midire said PNGSDP was pleased to support the work of churches in the region and the project was the communities’ own initiative as they set their own priorities and work through their respective churches.
“In Bougainville, we have a big programme that supports the work of churches, where the churches and the communities identify projects, set their own priorities and we support these.”
The Ruruvu sub-health centre is a United church-run health centre established in 1983.
The health centre serves a population of 5,420 people and treats an average of 50 to 100 patients per week for diseases such as malaria, cough and various skin diseases.
Both the construction of the staff house and the maintenance of the wards will boost the morale of staff in their efforts to providing improved health services to the local people.
15.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
SECOND PHASE PROGRAM DESIGN
By Aloysius Laukai
Pictured are members of the team who attended New Dawn FM's last Programme design workshop for a Community Learning Programme BOUGAINVILLE MERI TEDE a programme looking at Women's Health Issues.
15.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Picture of the Member for South Bougainville and Bougainville Affairs Minister being welcomed at the Buka airport
Picture by Aloysius Laukai
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
PUNGHAU REVEALS PLANS
Development in the region is currently stagnant as much of the projects have hit brick walls in terms of funding.
ABG minister for finance treasury and planning Albert Punghau in an interview told New Dawn FM that funding of impact projects will be priority in the K15million national funding this year.
He revealed that out that K15million kina K5m was to be used for payments of outstanding bills ABG had in the region.
Mr Punghau says that K10m will be for major impact projects in the region and will be given to the three regions.
He also told New Dawn FM that under the Momis Government development in the region is a major priority.
He has assured the people of Bougainville that the money will be put to good use for the development of the region.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
STUDENTS CALL FOR CHANGE
Bougainville has to be able to cater for its employment opportunities which will come with the development which is taking place in the region.
Bougainville student’s studying in universities around the country has been challenged to bring change into the region.
Gale Sare a third year Divine Word University student has challenged upcoming students to do their best for a better Bougainville.
She told New Dawn FM that many young Bougainvillians today are not being proud of their region and not taking charge.
She told reporters that Bougainville’s future is in their hands and the prosperity or fall of the region will be upon them.
She made these remarks today in preparation for their outreach program which will begin on Wednesday at Hutjena Secondary.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Ceasefire deal with rebels in Bougainville eases way for referendum - President Momis
The president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville says he’s delighted a ceasefire agreement will be signed with former militant groups in Konnou in the south of the main island late next month.
John Momis says former rebel leader, Damian Koike, has agreed to end the destructive violence that has kept government services out of the region for years.
He says an end to the fighting is critical if the province is to hold a referendum on possible independence from PNG after 2015, as laid out in the peace agreement.
“The people now realise that unless we now resolve our small differences and stop the fighting, nobody wins. We have made a lot of effort to explain to them that one of the conditions is to meet international standards for the people of Bougainville to qualify to have a referendum, we have to have good governance, we have to respect our government.” That is the president of Bougainville John Momis.
14.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville sets way forward
BOUGAINVILLE needs to embrace the win-win “new order” to develop into a prosperous model for the South Pacific, the Autonomous Bougainville Government said.
This is one of several suggestions for development contained in an ABG report obtained by the Post-Courier.
The report talks about ABG President John Momis’ vision of good governance, weapons disposal, respect for rule of law and authority, economic empowerment, equitable participation in and benefit from resource development, rural resource mobilisation, ethical, responsible and fair investment, environmental protection and sustainability, foreign direct investment, building a strategic partnership with China to secure Chinese government aid, attracting Chinese investment and achieve direct trading access to China to cut off middlemen, achieve full autonomy by the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement to allow the people to compare the autonomy and full independence before referendum.
According to the report, the “new order’s” characteristics talk about the will:
* TO provide capital and expertise to develop the natural resources of Bougainville for mutual and fair benefit (win-win strategy);
* to build up their own comprehensive, self-reliant and sustainable economic structure and capacity; and
* Supported by the new economic system, the developing countries can build up good social and political system that stands for integrity, justice, fairness, unity and harmony, as well as common benefit, good welfare and wide participation for the people.
“This will enable the developing countries play responsible role in contributing to the peace and development of the whole world,” the report states.
“Why are we willing to make you rich and strong? Because that can make us richer and stronger together.”
One of President Momis’ visions is to see the Bougainville China Co-operation as a strategy to achieve the full autonomy.
“We shall work hard to build Bougainville into a harmonious society with the following features:
* Peace and political stability and unity
* Responsible government with fiscal self-reliance and full capacity to deliver good governance;
* Implementation of good legal system to secure law and order;
* Wealth creation and fair distribution;
* Good education system/capacity and high literacy rate;
* Good social welfare and charity system;
* Comprehensive economic system and capacity and integration with global economy;
* Economic growth; and
* High employment rate and good income of the people for high living quality,” the report said.
14.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
PNG ministers may surrender to police
Two senior government ministers in Papua New Guinea are expected to hand themselves into police after warrants were issued for their arrest.
Last Friday the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney General Allan Marat on contempt charges.
That followed the government's suspension of the Chief Justice for what it said are serious allegations of misconduct.
A government source says the ministers will present themselves to the Police headquarters in Port Moresby this morning.
Over the weekend, before it became clear the MPs would be handing themselves in, Mr Namah spoke to the media in Port Moresby.
Presenter:Liam Fox
Speaker:Belden Namah, PNG's Deputy Prime Minister
Listen here !
14.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville elders to get budget priority
THE councils of elders in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will receive more in their annual support grants next year to maintain peace and good order in the communities, President John Momis says.
He said the increased budgetary support would also allow for the councils to provide assistance to the region’s health and education programmes, agriculture, fisheries and tourism.
But Momis said the increased budget to the councils would only be possible if the Autonomous Bougainville government was allowed to determine the use of the K100 million allocated to it by the national government next year.
The K100 million expected to be factored into the 2012 national budget is part of the K500 million commitment by the national government for Bougainville over the next five years.
Momis said the region’s 40 councils were allocated K55,000 in grants annually which were mainly tied to the administrative needs of the councils and allowances for peace officers and village court magistrates.
He said because of this, there was hardly any funds allocated for village-based projects which the councils were expected to deliver.
He said before the Bougainville crisis, village-based projects were non-existent due to the insufficient funding.
Momis said his government was committed to upgrading the council system and would ensure the councils were adequately funded.
14.11.2011
Source: The National
K6 million needed for Bougainville policing
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
SIX million kina is needed to implement a restructure plan for the Bougainville police service over two years.
Assistant Police Commissioner to Bougainville Thomas Eluh said the restructure project would focus on the expansion and strengthening of police operations, transport, communication and infrastructure.
The project would also involve the separation of the organisation into two main divisions – operations and corporate services.
Eluh said the restructure proposal, which had the support of the governments of Autonomous Bougainville and PNG, had been identified as a high impact project prioritised for implementation as soon as funding was made available.
“Most of this money will be required to rebuild police facilities destroyed or damaged during the Bougainville conflict,” Eluh said.
On the challenges of policing in Bougainville, the regional commanders of North, Central and South Bougainville have called for training opportunities for the
500 BPS officers.
North Bougainville regional commander chief Insp Cletus Tsien said police officers needed more training on management, investigations, community policing and conducting awareness.
South regional commander CIP Paul Kamuai said more help was needed from local partners for a better community policing of the region.
“Policing the international border with the Solomon Islands is a challenge and we need a well-trained, well-equipped police service.”
14.11.2011
Source: The National
Still no arrest
POLICE are yet to arrest acting Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat for contempt of court.
Acting Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga said he was instructed by the Supreme Court to arrest the two on a contempt of court order issued by Justice Bernard Sakora last Friday in response to a decision of the National Executive Council to suspend the chief justice.
Namah left last Friday for Kimbe on a prior engagement and returned to Port Moresby later that day and was escorted by police to his house.
Kulunga said: “I confirm receiving the order and I will act on it.”
Both Namah and Marat are reported to have stated they will produce themselves to police this week.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill appealed for calm from Hawaii where he is attending Apec conference.
“There is no reason for citizens and residents to fear the collapse of the rule of law or to speculate about the onset of a constitutional crisis in PNG.”
O’Neill said: “Nothing like that will or shall happen under my watch.
“What the nation has been watching and experiencing since Aug 2 is a healthy democratic display of the legislature, the executive and the judiciary proactively exercising their respective constitutional and independent roles as the three arms of government,’’ he said (see Page 55 for O’Neill’s full statement).
“That being so, the gravest development we must all expose, oppose and depose is the intrusion by the three arms of government into the affairs of each other.”
Former acting prime minister and Wabag MP Sam Abal yesterday accused the prime minister of lying to the nation when he declared last week that there would be no such move against the judiciary.
Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru called on the prime minister to sack his deputy and all who participated in the decision last week.
The East Sepik provincial government had also applied to the Supreme Court to have the entire cabinet, including the prime minister, charged with contempt.
The application by the provincial government was lodged at the Waigani Supreme Court last Friday.
Former judge, Nemo Yalo, said: “This is the worst case of abuse of power at the highest level.”
PNG Law Society president Kerenga Kua said: “Namah and Marat probably have a genuine explanation for their actions but like everyone else they can have their say in court. It may be totally justifiable but the due process will reveal that.
“The Constitutional Planning Committee, having foreseen such future abuses by powers that be, had specifically written a safety mechanism into the Constitution in section 182(3).
“This section says that where the chief justice is suspended and he was dealing with any judicial proceedings, he may continue and complete those proceedings, unless the Judicial and Legal Services Commission forbids him from doing so,” Kua said.
The National Executive Council decided last Thursday to suspend Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia on allegations of contempt of court, double-dipping and gross mismanagement of court finances.
Kulunga said the order would be executed “as soon as practical”.
The order stated that “pending formal charges of contempt being laid by the registrar of the Supreme Court against Belden Namah and Dr Allan Marat, that they both be arrested and detained by police forthwith and produced to this court on Monday, Dec 12, at 9.30am”.
“The said decisions of the National Executive Council are hereby stayed, and that the National Executive Council by its
servants and agents whomsoever including Belden Namah and Dr Allan Marat, are restrained from implementing the said decisions.”
The bustling streets of Port Moresby were unusually quiet last Friday and Saturday night after rumours of a coup gripped the city as a result of the suspension of the chief justice and the subsequent Supreme Court order to arrest Namah and Marat.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Police need help
by Aloysius Laukai
SIX million kina is needed to implement a proposed restructure plan for Bougainville Police Service (BPS) over a period of two years.
In a statement, Assistant Police Commissioner to Bougainville Thomas Eluh said the restructure project would focus on the expansion and strengthening of police operations, transport, communication and infrastructure.
The project would also involve the separation of the organization into two main divisions of operations and corporate services.
Eluh said the restructure proposal which has gained the support of the Autonomous Bougainville and PNG governments, has been identified as a high impact project prioritized for implementation as soon as funding is made available.
“Most of this money will be required to rebuild police facilities that was destroyed or damaged during the Bougainville conflict,” said Eluh.
On the challenges of policing in Bougainville, regional commanders of North, Central and South Bougainville have collectively called for training opportunities for the 500 BPS officers.
North Bougainville regional commander chief inspector Cletus Tsien said police officers need more training on a broad field of subjects including management, investigations, community policing and conducting awareness.
“I encourage the men and women of BPS be effective in our core business such as quicker response to callouts, follow-up time in solving crimes and high standards of professionalism in areas of customer service and discipline,” urged Tsien.
South regional commander CIP Paul Kamuai added that more help is needed from all local partners for a better community policing of the region.
“Policing the international border with the Solomon Islands is a challenge and we need a well trained, well equipped and resourced, well paid, mature and professional police service,” said Kamuai.
Central regional commander CIP Huitona Tohua commended BPS officers for giving their best to serving the people of Bougainville despite the lack of logistical support.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Council of Elders given budget priority
By AL
Council of Elders (COE) in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will receive more in their annual support grants next year says President John Momis.
Mr Momis said, that is, if the ABG is allowed to determine the use of the K100 million national government budgetary support to Bougainville next year.
The K100 million which is expected to be factored into the 2012 National budget is part of the total K500 million commitment by the national government for Bougainville over the next five years.
Mr Momis said the region’s 40 COEs are allocated K55,000 in grants annually which are mainly tied to the administrative needs of the councils with hardly any funds allocated for village based projects which the COEs are expected to deliver.
He said before the crisis, the community government system which was replaced by the COEs, undertook small village based projects but this was non-existent today due to insufficient funding from ABG.
Mr Momis assured that the COEs budget for 2012 would be increased to enable the councils to address and maintain peace and good order in the communites.
He adds that the COEs would also provide assistance to the region’s health and education programs, agriculture, fisheries and tourism in support of the region’s economic development.
President Momis said for autonomy to be realized and appreciated, the council of elders must be empowered to ensure basic government services from both the ABG and national government filters through to the village level.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
WOMEN HEALTH ISSUES ADDRESSED
By Aloysius Laukai
New Dawn FM in Association with Commonwealth of Learning based in Canada yesterday completed a one week Program design workshop the second phase of the Bougainville Meri Tede Programme started last year.
The workshop was attended by the ABG Minister for Community Development responsible for Women Youth and Churches, ROSE PIHEI and Representatives of the Division of Health, NGO's Hako Women Collective, Bougainville Women Federation and Bougainville Interchurch Women Forum and the Buka General Hospital and a Youth Representative.
The program designed would start on 23rd November at 8.30 pm and would be put on the COL website.
Pictured is Minister for Communication JOE NOPE opening the training at the Lumankoa Conference Room.
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville
Greetings
All our faithful viewers, were back on thanks to a Sponsor in Australia.ALEX DAWIA who has made it possible for us to come live again. The management and staff of New Dawn FM would like to thank Alex Dawia for his contribution in coming live again.
Aloysius Laukai
Manager New Dawn FM
14.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
PNG deputy PM ponders complying with arrest order
Papua New Guinea’s deputy prime minister Belden Namah says he will talk to lawyers before deciding on whether to hand himself over to police following a Supreme Court order for his arrest on contempt charges.
Mr Namah says he has received the orders from the Supreme Court for his and the Attorney-General Dr Allan Marat’s arrest, but he says he is standing by the government’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia.
On Thursday, Mr Namah announced the suspension and investigation of Sir Salamo into multiple matters, including alleged mismanagement of court funds and contempt of court.
The government’s move came as PNG is awaiting a Supreme Court verdict next month on the constitutionality of the government formed in August under disputed circumstances as the then prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, was in medical care in Singapore.
13.11.2011
Source: Panguna Landowner
Please read here the agenda of the...
PANGUNA MANAGEMENT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MOMIS AND MINISTERS
Date: Thursday 10th November 2011
Venue: Conference Room-ABG Administration
Agenda Items:
1. National Executive Meeting in Arawa
• “Duta Nee” –K6 Million
2. Mr. Paul Coleman’s visit to Arawa
3. President Hon Dr. John Momis visit to Panguna
4. Panguna Peace Building Strategy Policy Submission
5. K2 Million BCA Review/Panguna Re-opening Allocation
• Landowner’s Establishment
• Regional Awareness
• ABG/PLOA - BCA Secretariat
• PMCC Works Program (Budget)
6. Warner Shand Lawyers letter to BCL
7. BCL Request to National Government renew SML Lease License
8. Outstanding Lease Compensation
9. A.O.B.
11.11.2011
Source: The Australian BREAKING NEWS !
PNG Supreme Court orders arrest of attorney general, deputy PM
THE Supreme Court Of Papua New Guniea has ordered the arrest of Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and Attorney General Dr Allan Marat.
This follows an announcement by Mr Namah on Thursday that Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sir Salamo Injia had been suspended pending an investigation into multiple charges, including mismanagment of court funds.
The court ordered that Mr Namah and Dr Marat be arrested and brought before the court on Monday morning.
''The Registrar of the Supreme Court shall file and serve charges on two alleged contemnors the Hon Belden Namah and the Hon Dr Allan Marat within seven days,'' the court order said.
The order also restrains the government from implementing its decision, made Thursday, to suspend Sir Salamo from office.
The three year veteran of the Chief Justice chair had been presiding over a case into the constitutional legitimacy of the O'Neill government, which took power on August 2 in a 70 to 24 vote on the floor of parliament.
...That decision, by a panel of five judges, is due on December 9.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is currently in Hawaii for the APEC leaders meeting.
Original Arrest Order here !
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11.11.2011
Source: ESBC
New search engine online !
Neue Suchmaschine aktiv ! Hier klicken !
Nouveau moteur de recherche activé ! Cliquez ici !
11.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Bougainville launches new company
ONE of Bougainville’s vehicles for economic growth had been established and is in operation.
The Bougainville Import & Export General Corporation Limited (BIEG) was set up by the Bougainville Executive Council last month in Buka.
According to a report obtained by this newspaper, this is a public company in the business of imports and exports. It will start operation in general merchandise, wholesale and general hardware wholesale, and then expand to general goods and products export, as well as invest in other businesses including guest houses, restaurants, entertainment, downstream processing and real estate development.
The report details that:
* Total initial investment will be K10 million
* THE share pattern would be 60 per cent Bougainvillean (6000 shares to be sold to Bougainvillean public at K1000 per share), and 40 per cent Chinese investors;
* Profit distribution: Staff welfare fund, development fund and remaining dividend as per share pattern;
* The entity would be head-quartered in Buka and Kokopau with sub-headquarters in Arawa and Buin; and
* Build up distribution system to connect every community co-operative corporation
The BIEF facility will accommodate office, supermarket and wholesale, warehouse for general merchandise and general hardware sale, export warehouse, management personnel accommodation, workers accommodation, staff training/entertainment room, staff canteen, restaurant, guest house, transport fleet, first-aid facility.
The report also details the list of major Bougainvillean shareholders of BIEF, which includes:
* THE Autonomous Bougainville Government;
* Bougainville Trader Ltd;
* Bougainville Business Association, Inc., (BBA);
* THE Bougainville Women Federation;
* Bougainville Veterans Holdings Ltd (BVHL);
* Churches;
* Bougainville Youth Association (BYA);
* All Councils of Elders;
* Capital Development Assets Limited (CDA); and
* Community Cooperative Corporations.
The other shares will be sold to Bougainvillean individuals. Share sales quota will be assigned to North, Central and South Regions of Bougainville, and Bougainvilleans in other parts of PNG.
11.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
State has K1.3b in accounts
By ESTELLA CHEUNG
THE Papua New Guinea Government has a total balance of K1.3 billion in trust accounts and at the end of September 2011, total trust accounts reported to Bank of PNG (BPNG) were 223.
Of these trust accounts, 18 per cent are held with the BPNG and 82 per cent are held with commercial banks.
This was the response by BPNG governor, Loi Bakani to questions about how many trust accounts the State held with commercial banks and with BPNG.
“The Government has many Trust accounts both with commercial banks and central bank. These accounts were established and appropriated through the past annual and supplementary budgets as a result of surplus revenue to fund specific approved projects and activities,” Mr Bakani said in his response.
Mr Bakani said in regard to the Government’s decision to transfer some of these trust accounts to BPNG, was firstly to help the BPNG in managing the high liquidity levels that exist in the banking system.
“This is part of managing monetary policy. As the BPNG is the main banker to Government, the government also has the responsibility to work closely with the central bank in ensuring that fiscal and monetary policies continue to operate consistently to achieve price and macroeconomic stability,” Mr Bakani said.
He said secondly, it would help the Government in reducing the interest costs they are paying they are paying on securities mainly Treasury bills.
“There is a significant mismatch now as trust accounts deposits are earning less than one per cent from banks, while it pays around 3-4 per cent on Treasury bills sold to the public,” he said. In the Monetary Policy Statement, ending September 2011 by Mr Bakani as BPNG Governor, said to help BPNG’s efforts in achieving and maintaining price stability, the Government should undertake several measures which included the establishment of an offshore Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to manage revenues from the PNG LNG and other mineral projects. Minister for Finance and Treasury, Don Polye said at the 38th anniversary of BPNG on November 1 that Cabinet had approved the establishment of the SWF, but it is still not known where the SWF will be held.
11.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Election roll to be updated
By TRAVERTS MABONE
PREPARATIONS for the 2012 National Elections are progressing with the key focus now on updating the electoral roll in time for the elections.
The Minister responsible for the PNG Electoral Commission Wake Goi said that despite the set deadline of October 31, 2011 for elector data collection from all the provinces for processing into the electoral roll database, only a very few provinces have completed voter enrolment.
He added that most provinces were about to complete their data collection with some provinces needing an extension of time.
Provinces that have completed voter enrolment and have all their data entered into the electoral roll database will have their preliminary rolls printed and sent back to their respective provincial electoral offices, district offices, LLG offices and ward councilors for public viewing before the final rolls are printed in early 2012 for the elections.
The three provinces that have completed their rolls are West New Britain, Central and Northern provinces. Mr Goi further elaborated that elector data entry and quality audit of the rolls for East New Britain, West New Britain, Manus and New Ireland provinces are almost complete except for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville but voter enrolment is expected to start there in the coming weeks.
New rolls have already been sent to the provincial election managers in the New Guinea Islands region to complete elector data collection in certain wards.
For the Momase region, voter enrolment has been completed in West Sepik and East Sepik provinces while Morobe and Madang are still carrying out elector data collection in a number of their electorates which they have yet to send into Port Moresby for processing.
Data entry has been completed in most electorates and wards for West Sepik and East Sepik while data entry is progressing for only some electorates and wards for the two provinces.
For the Southern region, enrolment has been completed in the National Capital District, Central and Northern provinces; Milne Bay is almost complete while Western province is still behind with its field work in collecting elector data.
Data entry has been completed for Northern Province while Central province has only the Goilala Open electorate to go before its data entry is complete. For NCD and Milne Bay, data entry and roll audits area in progress.
For the highlands region, PNGEC is sending extra funding to all the Highlands provinces for them to get their electoral roll update work done.
So far, only two provinces that made some good progress in enroling eligible voters in the family order are Chimbu and Eastern Highlands while field work is in progress for Enga and Southern Highlands provinces.
Western Highlands meanwhile is the only Highlands province that no electoral roll update work has been done to date. However electoral roll update training began yesterday with field work to commence next week.
11.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Concern raised as PNG suspends Chief Justice
The government of Papua New Guinea has taken the extraordinary and unprecedented step of suspending the country's top judge.
It's leveled serious allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice but others say the timing is suspicious.
Critics say the move is designed to derail a legal challenge to the government's legitimacy and sets a dangerous precedent.
Presenter:Liam Fox
Speaker:Sir Arnold Amet, former PNG Attorney-General
Listen here !
FOX: With the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill out of the country for the APEC gathering in Honolulu his deputy Belden Namah delivered the dramatic news.
NAMAH: The cabinet has suspended the chief justice of Papua New Guinea based on overwhelming and I repeat that again based on overwhelming allegations against him.
FOX: The allegations are that Chief Justice Salamo Injia abused allowances, mismanaged court finances and engaged in compromising conflicts of interest.
Mr Namah also says the government has a police report saying Sir Salamo is facing contempt charges relating to the execution of a deceased judge's estate.
That allegation dates back to early 2009 and there was little detail about the other claims.
Nevertheless Mr Namah says the allegations are serious and a tribunal has been formed to investigate them.
NAMAH: No one in this country is above the law, including the prime minister, myself, nor the Chief Justice of this country. Everybody is subject to the law, just like the little people and this is the decision we've taken, the only place for Chief Justice to clear himself is at the tribunal.
FOX: The shock announcement comes at a sensitive time.
Next month the Supreme Court was due to hand down a decision on a challenge to the government's legitimacy.
It came to power in controversial circumstances back in August.
Peter O'Neill was elected Prime Minister after a mass defection of government MPs allowed the then opposition to declare the PM's office vacant.
The then Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had been overseas for several months recovering from heart surgery.
Sir Michael's supporters went to the Supreme Court arguing there was no vacancy and even if there was the proper process to replace him was not followed.
Legal arguments wrapped up earlier this month and the court said it would hand down its decision on the 9th of December.
But Sir Salamo's suspension means that won't happen.
SALAMO: The chief justice and the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court must be left untampered with to deliver their judgement and this is clearly contemptuous and it is interfering with the independence of the judiciary.
FOX: Sir Arnold Amet is a former Chief Justice himself and was the Attorney-General in the Somare Government.
He warned last week there were moves afoot to suspend Sir Salamo but the government said the claim was outrageous.
Sir Arnold says the suspension is a blatant and dangerous attempt to derail the Supreme Court challenge.
AMET: It's absolutely dangerous, it must not be allowed to unchallenged, otherwise the executive government can do this willy nilly at the drop of the hat if there are matters before the court that it is not pleased with.
FOX: Long time political observer Paul Barker from the Institute of National Affairs says it appears the government does have the power to suspend the Chief Justice.
But he says many Papua New Guineans will be suspicious of the timing.
BARKER: I think the public perception will certainly be concerned that the executive government is interfering in activities of the judiciary.
FOX: In this litigious society it's likely Sir Salamo's suspension will be challenged in court either by himself or the former government.
But in PNG the wheels of justice turn slowly and it could be some time before the issue is resolved.
11.11.2011
Source: The National
Grand Chief condemns ‘shameless act’
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare yesterday condemned the government’s decision to suspend the chief justice
“It pains me greatly that this unprecedented action is being taken when the full bench of the Supreme Court is deciding on one of the most important constitutional issues to face this country,” he said in a media statement.
“Because due processes have not been followed, I doubt if any fair minded citizen would believe the NEC accusation that Sir Salamo Injia has been guilty of any wrongdoing.
“Most members of the public would be well aware that I was closely involved with the drafting of the PNG Constitution, along with other leaders of the day, such as Bougainville President John Momis.
“This is a shameless action taken at the conclusion of hearings by the full bench of the Supreme Court on the legality of the Aug 2 parliamentary coup and the Sept 6 declaration of a vacancy for the East Sepik Regional seat. I held that seat for an uninterrupted period of 43 years.”
Sir Michael said the public would be well aware of the string of decisions taken by the O’Neill-Namah government to give themselves a pretence of legitimacy.
“You will recall they first tried very hard to stop me from returning from Singapore so my East Sepik seat could be declared vacant on grounds I had missed three consecutive sittings of parliament.
“Then the national government threatened the use of force to get the East Sepik provincial government to withdraw its special reference to the Supreme Court, acting in contempt of proceedings that were already under way.
“Now, in a third untoward action, the government is for the very first time in our history trying to impugn the integrity of our judiciary and the judicial system.
“I categorically condemn these actions.”
11.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville remandee electrocuted
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
A MAN on remand in the custody of the Bougainville police service died after he was electrocuted while trying to connect electricity to the home of a former police commander on Buka Island.
Sakius Parerea, from Wakunai, died instantly while carrying out the assignment at former Buka police station commander Alex Gunnan’s home.
Bougainville police chief Thomas Eluh said the work Parerea was doing had not been authorised.
Eluh said Gunnan, who has been blamed by relatives of the deceased, had paid K25,000 as bel kol money and was working towards paying the final K250,000 compensation demand by the end of this month.
“I assure the relatives of the deceased that the officer concerned has the responsibility to pay the grieving relatives a certain amount of money not less than K250,000 according to the demands of the relatives for the death of the remandee who was electrocuted,” Eluh said.
He urged the relatives of the deceased not to demand money from the state as they were already receiving money from the officer concerned.
Eluh said demanding compensation “is not Bougainville’s way of making peace and should not be practised in the region”.
“It is a culture adapted from the tribal areas of the New Guinea Islands,” he said.
“The habit of demanding bel kol compensation is a foreign concept and should not be practiced in Bougainville.”
10.11.2011
Source: ESBC Research
Panguna Landowner statement ahead!
The Panguna Landowners are supposed to make an important statement on Friday, November 11th, 2011, sources said Thursday evening in Buka. This will be reported as soon as possible here!
10.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia
PNG judge suspended over police charges
by Liam Fox, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea's government has taken the dramatic step of suspending the country's top judge after seeing police-filed charges against his name.
The acting Prime Minister, Belden Namah says "overwhelming" allegations have been made against Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia, forcing the government to act.
He says a police report shows Sir Salamo is facing contempt charges connected to the execution of a late judge's estate.
Mr Namah also alleges the judge has abused allowances, mismanaged court finances and was engaged in compromising conflicts of interest.
The suspension comes at a sensitive time, with the full bench of the Supreme Court is now considering a challenge to the government's legitimacy, due to be hand down its decision next month.
Suspended: PNG Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia
10.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
PNG govt suspends Chief Justice of Supreme Court
The Papua New Guinea government has suspended the chief justice of the Supreme Court, a month before he was to deliver a verdict on the legitimacy of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s election.
The Herald Sun online reports the government suspended Sir Salamo Injia yesterday, citing a police report that he is facing charges of breaching a contempt order in a previous case, and mismanaging court finances.
In a statement, deputy prime minister, Belden Namah, said a tribunal of former judges would investigate the allegations against Sir Salamo.
Late week the government denied to that it was seeking to remove Supreme Court judges from the case.
The Deputy Chief Justice Gibbs Salika is to be acting Chief Justice during Sir Salamo’s suspension.
Sir Salamo has been chief justice since 2008.
Meanwhile, Paul Barker, of the Institute of National Affairs, says the Supreme Court will presumably move ahead with its December 9 verdict on whether Mr O’Neill’s elevation to the top job on August 2 was constitutional.
10.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
ABG strategises economy
By GORETHY KENNETH
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government should be financially secure in the next three years if a major and special economic zoning strategy they have established is adhered to and followed.
President John Momis’ detailed report of the Special Economy zoning (SEZ) is set in a way that would strategically and regionally benefit Bougainville.
According to the report:
* North Bougainville Region should concentrate on Cocoa (chocolate) and Tourism. (Preparation of cocoa to be processed in Bougainville for chocolate with a chocolate factory being set up.
This would be done in north Bougainville. This town would focus on cocoa as its main economic priority as a SEZ primary product to stimulate direct investment development. It is envisaged that this establishment’s infrastructure will bring in multinational companies and industries for partnership arrangement.
* Central region will concentrate on mining industries, infrastructure processing and;
* Southern region will have the tuna cannery, animal husbandry and rice packaging etc.
The ABG will also focus on “The Happiest Town” promotion with benefits to include:
* Public investment (basic facilities) $US1.4 billion (K3.49 billion). Roads, bridges, seaports, airports, hydropower, medical, stadiums, technical colleges and other amenities. The Chinese Government will loan to ABG at 2% interest for 60 years a K24 million repayment annually.
* Private investment benefit K3.57billion ($US 1.39 billion).
* Industrial investment — USD $US600 m (K1.397 billion)
* Commercial real estate investment $US323 m (K752 million).
* Residential real estate — $US167 million (K389 million).
* Tourism — $US50m (K116 million)
* Trades — $US100m (K232 million)
* Service — $US50m (K116 million.
10.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
40 atolls families to move to Buka
FORTY families from Bougainville’s Carteret Islands, are ready to move to their new location on the far north of Buka Island.
And an appeal has been made to the Autonomous Bougainville Government from the Carterets Island council of elders to help control the international non-government organisations that are frequenting the islanders with no help coming their way from these groups.
Bougainville President John Momis said that the Bougainville administration was now working on a proposal to immediatley help the islanders because in his recent visit to the Carterets, he witnessed the island in a very bad state – that the main island would now be cut in half from the rising sea level.
Mr Momis said there was still K2 million parked in the government account for the resettlement program and advised that the Australian Government, through Parliamentary Secretary Richard Marles, had also pledged to help financially with the resettlement of these islanders.
“Mi lukim Carterets em bagarap. Yumi no nap stopim climate change…solwara rausim ol sea wall pinis and everything, so they have to move (I have seen that Caterets have all destroyed. We cannot stop Climate Change ... the sea has removed all seawalls and everything),” Mr Momis said in Tok Pisin and English.
Meanwhile, Bougainville Affairs Minister Steven Pirika Kama also pledged to take the plight of the Carterets Islanders to the next level – to seek financial help from the National Government for the resettlement. “Yes, I will take it up if ABG gives proposal – everything is proposal because money never comes from the sky – proposal will implement it,” said Mr Pirika.
10.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Arawa police investigate murders
POLICE in Arawa are investigating the murder of three people in Arawa early hours of yesterday.
Arawa police told the Post-Courier yesterday that the three were alleged to have attempted to rob a shop in Arawa but failed and their heads were chopped off tby unknown persons. The police could not further provide details as they claimed the investigations were still being carried out.
10.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville joins tsunami alert exercise
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
THE Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be part of a nationwide tsunami warning exercise using the PACWAVE 11 system today, Bougainville disaster and emergency coordinator Franklyn Lacey says.
The exercise will be conducted by the Pacific Warning Centre in Hawaii in collaboration with the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory and the National Disaster Centre.
Lacey said the aim of the exercise was to test the effectiveness and efficiency of the early warning and communication systems of each respective emergency centre and, on a larger scale, each country in the Asia-Pacific region and South America.
He said it was to test the new products the centre in Hawaii would now be employing to monitor earthquakes and issue tsunami warnings.
“All district executive managers throughout the autonomous region have been notified and are on standby to receive and disseminate the warnings to all respective recipients within the districts,” he said.
Lacey said the different district contacts in the region had been warned to ensure that the recipients were advised in advance of the exercise to avoid any unnecessary panic among the local communities.
He said a feed-back and evaluation exercise would be conducted immediately after the alert exercise to get the views of the public.
10.11.2011
Source: The National
Locals puzzled by sinkhole
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
TORE-SURE villagers in North Bougainville are baffled by a 20-meter wide trench that is two meters deep and gradually expanding through the valley at the base of Mt Takania where the village is.
Bougainville disaster coordinator Franklyn Lacey said local chiefs, concerned about their people’s safety, sought his help to determine the cause of the sinking soil.
He said the sinking soil phenomena began in 2009.
And it has affected a wide area including coffee and cocoa plantations, he said.
Lacey refused to speculate on the cause of the sinking soil but confirmed that there was no evidence of fumes emitting from the ground and there was no unusual smell in the area.
He said soil samples from the village will be sent to the Rabaul Volcano Observatory next week for analysis.
He said the chiefs were keenly awaiting the results from the laboratory tests as they planned to relocate the bulk of the Tore-Sure population from their current settlement along the coast of Tinputz back to the base of Mt Takania.
“These people originally lived at the base of Mt Takania but during the German administration, they were relocated to the coastal area for census reasons.
“These people of more than 600 now want to return to their land but fear settling in their village which they see is sinking,” said Lacey.
He said laboratory results from the RVO would be expected back in December as the laboratory technician was in Australia.
09.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
ABG receives K15m grant
By GORETHY KENNETH
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government received its 2011 establishment grant of K15m from the National Government yesterday.
Minister for Bougainville Affairs Steven Pirika Kama handed the cheque to ABG President John Momis in Buka yesterday.
The first K100 million “promised” to Bougainville under the K500 million package should be released in this year’s National Budget.
Further, the ABG has asked for an increase in the Bougainville’s recurrent budget, an annual allocation from the National Government for next year, according to Mr Momis in an interview in Buka yesterday.
Mr Kama reiterated the commitment and the partnership from the O’Neill-Namah Government to Bougainville.
Meanwhile, Mr Momis thanked the National Government for honouring its commitment and releasing the K15m, although 11 months later.
Mr Momis said that most of this grant would be used to repay monies diverted from other projects and continue to fund peace process and development activities in the region.
“Bougainville was reduced to basic humanity and these K15 million grant was a means for us for development, implement autonomy and working towards referendum,” he said.
Although the ABG needed more money to develop its region, Mr Momis assured the K100 million if released this year would be used for planned impact projects already in preparation by the ABG and its administration.
09.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Call to fund peace effort
By Melanie Toliken
THE people of Manetai in the Eivo/Torau Constituency are calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to a fund peace and reconciliation project in preparation for the re-opening of the limestone mine.
According to their member Melchior Dare, the Emai chiefs passed a resolution to hold high impact reconciliation for consultation and negotiations towards securing a joint venture partnership arrangement to re-open mine by early 2012.
”The necessarily process such as land mediation, dispute on the landownership title has been resolved by the Emai chiefs and now we are calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government and its administration through the Division of Peace to immediately assist to fast track high impact peace and reconciliation among the surrounding communities of limestone area,” said Mr Dare.
He said that a request had been made to the Division of Commerce and Trade through the Investment Promotion Authority to advertise the Manetai Limestone Project in the IPA website and media to attract one to two foreign investors to bid for the project.
He added that by 2012 the people of Manetai and the ABG should secure a joint venture partnership to re-open the limestone mine.
“The project will greatly contribute to the region by boosting its economy as well as improving social livelihoods,” said Mr Dare.
09.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Seaweed project for atolls
THE Bougainville Executive Council has endorsed a pilot seaweed farming project for the Bougainville Atolls and other coastal communities in the region.
Since the National Fisheries Authority banned the sea cucumber industry in 2009, those people who depended heavily on the business to sustain their daily needs, were financially affected.
The seaweed farming project was approved after the Autonomous Bougainville Government Minister for Primary Industry presented a policy submission based on the Feasibility Study Report on the seaweed farming in the Solomon Island.
Seaweed is an important commercial food, especially in Asian and European countries and it is one of the highly priced commodities in the world markets in Asia, America, Africa, and Europe.
Seaweed project is an effective alternative economic development activity in the Atolls and coastal communities.
09.11.2011
Source: The National
ABG gets K15m state grant
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
IMPACT projects for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be implemented under a K15 million restoration and development grant from the national government.
Bougainville Affairs Minister and South Bougainville MP Steven Kamma Pirika yesterday presented Bougainville President John Momis with a bank statement as proof of the funds being deposited into the ABG account.
Momis said the K15 million grant was from an agreement between the national government and ABG in the Bougainville peace agreement signed in 2001.
He said the funding would help with the rebuilding of roads, infrastructure and sorting out the Bougainville administrative divisions.
The president said the ABG would continue with its peace-building and weapons disposal initiatives and that it was talking with the PNG, Australia and New Zealand governments on building the technical and intellectual capacity of Bougainvilleans.
In thanking the PNG government, Pirika urged both governments to work together for the betterment of the people of Bougainville.
09.11.2011
Source: The National
Mining boom
THE mining and petroleum industry is the biggest employer in Papua New Guinea in the past six years.
The industry came close to doubling its workforce from 18,000 to 30,000 between 2003 and 2010.These figures were disclosed byMichael Uiari, the Oil Search general manager in PNG in charge of commercial,
legal and stakeholder management. He was speaking last Friday to journalists in Port Moresby about the industry’s benefit to PNG’s economy. The main projects in the pipeline are the PNG LNG project, Yandera, Ramu nickel, Wafi Golpu, Frieda River and Gulf LNG. There are a number of grass roots exploration projects in both mining and petroleum also employing a lot of workers in the fields. Projects commissioned into production during this period are Simberi and Hidden Valley mines. Uiari said a growing number were
hired in the exploration phases, smallscale alluvial mines and contractors and joint ventures being set up.
He said the industry was an integrated industry made up of exploration, evaluation, development and production, using a wide range of services and support industries, indirectly giving jobs to more people. They were mainly employed by aviation, drilling and drilling suppliers, seismic contractors, analytical laboratories and technical services of all types.
Others were involved in expediting and logistics, earthmoving and trucking sales and contractors, shipping of all types, port services, supply of motor vehicles and tyres, wholesaling and retailing of fuel, general merchandise, white goods, equipment, tools, food supplies and catering, maintenance and servicing contractors of all types, accounting, legal, engineering, surveying and other professional services, provision of accommodation including hotels, office and private rental residences, technical and vocational training and security.
“These groups benefit because our industry consumes goods and services from every aspect of our economy,” Uiari said.
The PNG LNG project alone currently employs 6,600 local workers compared to a maximum of 3500 projected before construction.
At the peak of construction in the second half of next year, total employment is expected to jump to 15,000 people – local and foreign combined.
The economy is expected to grow by a “low double-digit” this year which is expected to translate to significant increases in employment in contrast to 2009 when the economy grew by only 4.5% due mainly to the global financial crisis.
Uiari said the financial and other benefits provided by the resource projects were diverse and substantial including employment, royalty via the state, taxes, dividends, tax credit schemes, education and training, business and agricultural development, health programmes and services, community facilities and other infrastructure.
He said an estimated K1.47 billion in taxes was paid to the government last year.
Uiari said royalties alone during the past five years had totalled K1.1 billion calculated at the rate of 2% each from the mining and the petroleum sectors.
09.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainvilleans farm seaweed
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
BOUGAINVILLE atolls and coastal communities are venturing into seaweed farming as an alternative to marketing sea cucumber.
The marine project, which recently gained the support of the Bougainville executive council, is expected to generate income for more than 500 families affected by the closure of the sea cucumber industry.
Bougainville House of Representatives speaker Andrew Miriki said the seaweed farming project was approved after the Autonomous Bougainville Government minister for primary industry, Nicholas Daku presented a policy submission based on a feasibility study report on seaweed farming in the Solomon Islands.
“Since the sea cucumber industry was banned in 2009 by the National Fisheries Authority, those who depended on the business were financially affected,” he said.
Miriki said there were world markets in Asia, United States of America, Africa and Europe for seaweed.
“Seaweed is one of the highly priced commodity in the world markets due to its many uses such as fertiliser, livestock meal, gels, rubber and as colloid
in cosmetics, car polishes and paints,” Miriki said.
09.11.2011
Source: The National
Bougainville education board members appointed
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
THIRTEEN new appointees have been endorsed by the Bougainville executive council to serve on the Bougainville education board.
The council said the appointment of the new members was necessary as the term of the former members had expired on August 26.
The new education board members include Bruno Babato, who is chairman, Joseph Noro, Peter Toliken and Lucy Travertz, who represent the national government.
Members representing the Papua New Guinea Teachers Association, churches, local level government and community are Jonathan Ageva, Martin Takali, Simon Koraikove, Omepa Misirari, Frank Matapau, Roslyine Gatana, Peter Dosti, Nicolas Mangona and John Masiu.
Congratulating the new members, the executive council urged them to take seriously their roles as the board was the highest decision-making body responsible for education policies, activities and services.
08.11.2011
Source: Radio New Zealand International
Bougainville prepares for ceasefire signing in the South
Preparations are under way for the official signing of a ceasefire agreement in Konnou in the south of the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville.
This follows negotiations between the autonomous Bougainville government and the rebel leader, Damian Koike, who has held sway in the region for years.
The newspaper, The National, reports the Bougainville Vice President Patrick Nisira, saying the agreement would end more than six years of conflict which has claimed more than 50 lives.
He says the conflict has caused insecurity for women and children, displacing many families.
Mr Nisira says the signing is planned for next month.
08.11.2011
Source: ESBC Research / Bloomberg Businessweek
UP 79 percent !
China 2015 Copper Demand to Reach 12.5 Million Tons, Minmetals !
Please scroll down to November 2nd !
08.11.2011
Source: The National
Lasting peace looms for South Bougainville
By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
PREPARATIONS are under way for the official signing of a ceasefire agreement in Konnou, South Bougainville.
Bougainville Vice-President Patrick Nisira, who is Konnou task force committee chairman, said the signing is planned for next month.
He said the agreement would end more than six years of conflict in the Konnou area which had claimed more than 50 lives.
“The past eight years of conflict and killing in Konnou have caused insecurity to women and children and had displaced families from their homes,” Nisira said.
“Today, we hear people talking about peace, reconciliation and not war.
“The hunger for peace in Konnou is much stronger than the desire for vengeance and violence,” he said.
Since August, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and President John Momis had been working with a Konnou task force committee and the Konnou peace mission team in initiating dialogue and organising reconciliation ceremonies with warring factions in the area.
Nisira said the lead-up reconciliations were held throughout last month at Hongarai, in Siwai, and Mongai, Wisai and Mogorai, in Buin, where Mekamui hardliner Damien Koike shook hands with his former enemies of the Wisai Liberation Movement (WILMO) faction.
“I thank the conflicting parties in Konnou for owning up to negotiate for peace in their area,” Nisira said.
“It has been a long time coming to reconcile with each other.
“Although peace in Konnou means a lot for the families who had suffered, it further strengthens the process of unification of all Bougainvilleans,” he said.
08.11.2011
Source: ESBC Research
DO NOT MIX UP Pukki and Puka !
 | 
|
Teemu Pukki Soccer professional from Finland playing for Schalke 04 in the first German league. | Sir Puka Temu , MD Politician from Papua New Guinea national MP and former Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Agriculture |
08.11.2011
Source: The National
AusAID gives steriliser to Buka Hospital
by STEPHANIE ELIZAH
CONFIDENCE in Buka General Hospital’s delivery of quality patient care and treatment has been restored with a new sterilising machine funded by AusAID being commissioned last Friday.
Hospital chief executive officer Dr Cyril Imako said the new Atherton steriliser would be handled with care by trained officers of the central sterilising unit.
“Buka Hospital deals with 200 surgical cases and up to 150 deliveries per month,” he said.
“These kind of figures demand high performance from our staff.
“Operating functional machines like this steriliser is critical to delivering quality care for our patients,” Imako said.
Director medical services Dr Barnabas Matanu said Buka Hospital was the ninth hospital to launch this “state of the art” machine after eight other provincial hospitals around the country, including Manus, Kavieng, Port Moresby and Nonga, in East New Britain.
“We are very excited. The steriliser will enhance delivery and patient care of patients from throughout the autonomous region.
“Our surgeons and nurses will now be able to do their job in a much safer environment.
“They will work in realistic time as the machine can sterilise items in less than five minutes, which is a critical factor,” Matanu said.
Steven Greenleaf, installation engineer with Sterilising Equipment Supply and Services (SESS) Australia, said for the first time, the contract to supply and install sterilising equipment in PNG had a service contract attached.
“It is a major boost for health services as it not only allows the contractor to supply and install equipment but provide maintenance and upgrade service on a two-year basis,” he said.
Greenleaf, who spent a week in Buka installing the new machine, provided two days of technical training on how to operate the machine, including record keeping of data generated by the machine and how to recover from the constant power outages Buka town is prone to.
08.07.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Ceasefire agreement locked in for factions
By Melanie Toliken UPNG journalism student
FACTIONS in South Bougainville will soon proceed to stage two of the peace mission – the guns and weapons disposal program.
This is because of a major breakthrough, the Autonomous Bougainville Peace Mission successfully negotiated with the Me’ekamui hardliner Damien Koike and his warring factions for a major ceasefire agreement signing on November 29, at Tabago Mission.
ABG Veterans Affairs Minister David Sisito said from that, the Tsiroge Accord Task Force has achieved its mission and is now ready for another process in life –the guns disposal to get the region ready for a referendum.
ABG vice president Patrick Nisira in a statement on the Konnou issue also stated that the ABG should be given a pat on the back for a successful mission.
“Peace does not grow on trees like apples in the Garden of Eden. We must initiate and work hard for peace to return in our communities,” Mr Nisira said.
“It is imperative we understand that Bougainville needs the people of Konnou also in our communal effort towards referendum and therefore necessary that the rest of Bougainvillians must participate wherever possible to help restore peace in Konnou.
“It is easy to make war but very hard to make peace, therefore, the Bougainville executive council stresses that all ex-combatants, the peace team, the churches in Bougainville, the recently created Buin custom way and all peace loving people of Bougainville must now work collectively to sustain the achievements gained in the last three months.
“Our ultimate success to referendum vests on a unified Bougainville that is mutually responsible in maintaining peace in the region.”
He said that the Konnou issue was a complicated one and those who are involved in the succeeding stages of the reconciliation process must take cautious measures while addressing the issue.
“For the last six to eight years of the conflict in Konnou, there have been killings which have caused insecurity to women and children and, have displaced a handful of families from their homes,” he said. “We heard killings after killings in South Bougainville/Konnou.
“Today, you hear people talking about peace, reconciliation, and not war.
“The hunger for peace in Konnou is much stronger than the desire for vengeance and violence.
“I must acknowledge President, John Momis’ personal involvement in the Konnou peace process.
“His tireless trips to be at these trouble spots to join with the reconciling parties is an unyielding quality of his concern for a united Bougainville,” he said.
08.07.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Eroro scoops News Ltd award
POST-COURIER journalist Simon Eroro scored a first for the Post-Courier newspaper, and the country, when he was named the winner of 2011 News Limited News Awards “Scoop of the Year” category.
He beat off the other two finalists from The Australian newspaper and the Sunday Herald Sun. Simon’s entry in the awards this year was his securing of an interview with the OPM on the Indonesian border last August, and the risk and personal sacrifice he had to undergo to get the interview.
Simon with his wife, Chrissenda, accompanied by Post-Courier managing director Kevin Smith and editor-in-chief, Blaise Nangoi, attended the awards in Sydney last Friday night where the announcement was made at a Black Tie Dinner attended by News Limited founder and major shareholder, Rupert Murdoch, members of his family, businessmen, politicians, and News Limited Chairman and chief executive officer, John Hartigan.
News Limited is a shareholder of the Post-Courier newspaper.
The awards are an annual event held by News Limited for all its newspapers in the region to recognise excellence in journalism among its reporters.
This is the second time the Post-Courier has entered the awards, the first in 2007 where its Buka bureau chief, Gorethy Kenneth also went through to the finals with her exclusive on an interview with Bougainville secessionist hardliner, Francis Ona.
Mr Smith said of Simon’s win: “As in 2007, I was very satisfied that one of our journalists made it to the finals. To get this far is a great achievement in itself, considering there were 565 entries. For Simon to actually go on to win one of the major awards was something very special. Competing among the best of the best of the big metropolitan Australian dailies is nearly an impossible task. “However Simon’s story, effort, professional determination and personal sacrifice could not help but impress the 53 judges, and he deservedly came out a winner. I know this has lifted the spirit and morale of not just our journalists, but many employees in other departments at Post-Courier, and I hope it delivers the same to all the other PNG journalists and media staff. I do not see this as just a win for Post-Courier, but much rather a time of pride for Papua New Guinea. Congratulations Simon, and a special thankyou to your wife Chrissenda for supporting you in your career.”
Mr Nangoi said the win for Simon and the paper comes at a time when the newspaper is being bombarded by critics on many issues it has reported on.
“It is a great personal achievement for Simon as a journalist. We at the Post-Courier are proud of Simon but, as important too, is the fact that the award is also recognition of the high standards we strive to bring news to our readers nationally.
Mr Nangoi said: “I am delighted with the award. It means a lot, not only to our journalists, but all journalists in PNG. It is a vote of confidence in what they can achieve if they are backed to do their jobs properly.’’
07.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Residents query shop
BOUGAINVILLEAN leaders and residents of Buka town are demanding the Autonomous Bougainville Government to explain why a particular company is now operating a retail shop and not a wholesale as agreed.
The company is one of the alleged “biggest company” as stated by the ABG.
It would be the major wholesaler for Bougainville to help small scale businesses, especially trade stores and retailers from spending execessively to order goods in Rabaul, Lae and Port Moresby.
Instead Bougainvilleans are already up in arms and want a response from the ABG why this company is operating in containers and not a big wholesale building.
“They look like they are operating like Lot 60 in Port Moresby, where is the wholesale idea or the joint venture agreement that the ABG has been preaching about?” the community in Buka and the leadership have questioned. “We’ve been watching these Chinese selling goods in these containers. And look at them, Chinese are building fences when our youths in Buka can be utilized. What a big joke.”
But the Chinese company now setting up a few yards away from the Buka Urban Council have advised the Post-Courier that they will have to operate in containers first before any big wholesale is built.
Some of these Chinese men spoken to do not understand or speak English. The person who could understand the language refused to talk to the paper when asked. He could only say that they were still building and that they would be operating a wholesale next year.
The ABG, under its BCCC arrangement, has been committed to promote:
• Joint ventures
• Large capital/high expertise Chinese investment projects
• Systematic joint venture endeavour
• Building up Bougainville economic development capacity
• Supporting ABG legislation, establishment of implementation capacity, and fiscal self-reliance
• Maximum Bougainvillean participation in and benefit from joint ventures share pattern
• Technical training for expertise improvement.
07.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
UN’s call on youths
By JOYCE TOHUI
YOUTHS of Bougainville have been urged to organise and participate in the development of Bougainville.
United Nations Development Programme Technical Officer Anthony Agyenta made the call at the signing of the Hongorai ceasefire agreement in Siwai.
Mr Agyenta said that there were a lot of opportunities out there but only an organised group could tap into them.
He told them that as future leaders, they should be participating in all activities in their areas instead of causing problems in their communities.
Mr Agyenta said that UN was not in Bougainville to collect weapons as it should be the people of Bougainville who should collect their own weapons.
He said the work of UN of five years ago was different because UN was now there to develop the place and it’s the people that must provide the environment for development to take place.
07.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Support for churches
By JOYCE TOHUI
THE President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government John Momis said that his Government would fully support the work of churches in Bougainville.
He was speaking at the launching of the God’s Kingdom network at the Bel Isi Park in Buka town recently.
Mr Momis said that ABG, in its budget plan, would financially fund churches to carry out their work throughout the region.
He said that he believed churches could do a lot to help the people of Bougainville as it looked after its congregation.
Mr Momis also acknowledged the launching of the contract, saying it was an agreement between God and the people to build God’s Kingdom on Bougainville.
He assured the people that his Government would work closely with churches in the region to ensure true peace prevailed in Bougainville.
He said that he believed in church workers that they would implement the contract which would unify Bougainville.
07.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Momis initiated chief of Nuguria
By JOYCE TOHUI
THE President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government John Momis was at the weekend made the paramount chief of Nuguria in a traditional ceremony.
A delegation from ABG attended the event, including ministers and chief executive officers from all the ABG Government divisions.
Chief Momis was also named as Nuguria by the chief of Nuguria.
The ceremony in Nuguria took place when Mr Momis became the first ABG President to visit the island since the ABG was established in 2005.
In accepting the initiation ceremony, Chief John Momis Nuguria called on the people of Nuguria to stay united and work with their Government in its efforts to develop Bougainville.
Mr Momis said that the ABG planned to promote the farming of seaweed and other marine products in the Atolls Island.
He said work had already started to fast track the sea weed farming for Caterets and the Nuguria islanders.
Mr Momis also told the people of Nuguria that the ABG had plans to buy one fast boat to promote tourism on the island and a similar mode of transport for the atolls.
Meanwhile, more than 3000 bales of rice and tinned fish were distributed to the people of Nuguria and Carterets islands at the weekend.
These food supplies were a regular three monthly supplies which the ABG provides to the people of Atolls who have been severely affected by rising sea levels on their island.
The food supplies were delivered on the MV Bougainville Atoll’s maiden trip to the two islands at the weekend.
Mr Momis and his delegation also used the opportunity to meet and talk to the people of Atolls.
07.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
China mines in Zambia ‘unsafe’: Human Rights Watch
Chinese-run copper mines in Zambia are dangerously unsafe and owners routinely flout the rights of workers, says a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The pressure group says miners are threatened with dismissal if they became involved in union activities.
It urged Zambia's new President, Michael Sata, to fulfil election promises and take decisive action against the owners.
The Chinese state company running the mines denied most of HRW's allegations.
Copper mining is one of Zambia's main industries, providing nearly three-quarters of the country's exports; many of the mining companies are foreign-owned.
The Human Rights Watch report entitled "You'll Be Fired If You Refuse": Labour Abuses in Zambia's Chinese State-owned Copper Mines, highlights "persistent abuses".
It said miners had to work 12-hour shifts often in fume-filled tunnels. Sometimes shifts were 18 hours long.
Zambian law limits shifts to eight hours.
The report said that despite improvements in recent years, safety and labour conditions at Chinese mines were worse than at other foreign-owned mines.
The state-owned China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNM) runs four copper mines in Zambia.
In its response to the report, CNM said "language and cultural differences" could have resulted in "misunderstandings".
"China's significant investment in Zambia's copper mining industry can benefit both Chinese and Zambians," said Daniel Bekele, the Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
"But the miners in Chinese-run companies have been subject to abusive health, safety and labour conditions and longtime [Zambian] government indifference."
Many of the poor safety practices in Zambia's Chinese-run mines were strikingly similar to abuses at mines in China, he added.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing, Hong Lei said the report did not accurately reflect conditions.
"The conclusions reached by Human Rights Watch are inconsistent with the facts," Mr Hong told reporters.
He said Chinese companies had brought great benefits to Zambia and that systems were in place to protect the safety and rights of workers there.
The report is based on interviews with 170 copper miners, more than half of whom worked for the Chinese companies.
Human Rights Watch found that pay at the Chinese-run mines was higher than Zambia's minimum wage, but much lower than that paid by other multinational copper mining firms.
The workers said they often had to buy their own safety equipment.
"Sometimes when you find yourself in a dangerous position, they tell you to go ahead with the work," one miner told Human Rights Watch. - BBC
04.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Konnou to end war
By GORETHY KENNETH
A BIG official signing of the ceasefire agreement in Bougainville’s estranged Konnou area has been planned before Christmas this year.
And the hunger for peace in Konnou is now much stronger than the desire for vengeance and violence, according to Autonomous Bougainville Government vice president Patrick Nisira, who is also the Chairman of the Konnou Peace Task Force Committee.
Further, there was a big reconciliation meeting at Mogorai, Me’ekamui hardliner Damien Koike’s village in Buin. After a month of constant meetings with chiefs and the warring factions in the Konnou area for a possible ceasefire arrangement, three truck loads of WILMO faction from Wisai arrived at Koike’s village for the occasion.
“On this note, let me take this opportunity to thank the conflicting parties in Konnou for owning up to negotiate for peace in their area. It has been a long road coming to finally settle down to reconcile with each other. Although, peace in Konnou means a lot for the families who have suffered since the conflict began, it further strengthens,” he said.
“…I can humbly say that the success in the progress of peace in Konnou today was instigated by the movement of the Peace Team into Konnou areas in late August, 2011, when the situation was still tense. This was the crucial breakthrough that has created venues to negotiate peace between the conflicting factions in Konnou. I must also commend the Bougainville Executive Council, chaired by President John Momis for making this important decision in the push for peace in Konnou.
“The Konnou issue is a complicated issue and those who are involved in the succeeding stages of the reconciliation process must take cautious measures while addressing the issue. For the last six to eight years of the conflict in Konnou, there have been killings which have caused insecurity to women and children and, has displaced a handful of families from their homes. We heard killings after killings in south Bougainville/Konnou. Today, you hear people talking about peace, reconciliations and not war.
“The recent reconciliations at Mogoroi in Buin, Hongarai at Siwai, Mongai and Wisai in Buin are all interconnected issues with the Konnou conflict. Although, these reconciliations were dealt with separately, the issues in these areas are very much part of the conflict in Konnou.
“The Konnou issue, which is now in its reconciliation process, has been a hurdle for quite some time for the ABG to deliver the basic Government services to the Konnou people.
“In Koike’s short speech during the ceremony, he said ‘fate has finally arrived for us to put away guns’.”
04.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Media workshop on mining, petroleum
SELECTED journalists from media organisations in the country are attending a media workshop on the mining and petroleum industry.
The workshop will provide journalists with an introduction to the legislation that governs the PNG mining and petroleum sectors, an overview of all facets of the industry and PNG resource developments.
The workshop will cover specific industry issues, especially resource ownership. It will also be an opportunity to meet public relations specialists from across the industry and to obtain the latest project information and publications.
The workshop is principally aimed at the mainstream media, but it is expected that public relations personnel from relevant Government organisations will attend as well as PR personnel from across the industry.
The event runs for two days; from today to tomorrow.
04.11.2011
Source: The National
Momis made chief of Nuguria
By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI
BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis was made the paramount chief of Nuguria in a traditional ceremony last weekend.
The ceremony was attended by members of the ABG delegation that included ministers and chief executive officers from all government divisions.
Momis was named as Nuguria by the chief of Nuguria.
The ceremony in Nuguria eventuated when Momis became the first leader to visit the island since the establishment of the autonomous region in 2005.
In accepting the initiation ceremony, Momis Nuguria called on the people of Nuguria to stay united and work with their government to develop Bougainville.
Momis said ABG had plans to promote the farming of seaweed and other marine products in the Atolls islands.
He said work had already started to fast-track sea weed farming for Carterets and the Nuguria islanders.
He told the people of Nuguria the ABG had plans to buy a fast boat to promote tourism on the island and ensure a fast mode of transport to the islands.
More than 3000 bales of rice and tinned fish were distributed to the people of Nuguria and Carterets islands at the weekend.
The food was the regular three-monthly supply that the ABG provides to the people of Atolls who have
been severely affected by rising sea levels.
03.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Momis urges unity for peace
THE ABG President John Momis is appealing to the people of Bougainville to unite for peace and remove the blockades of unity.
He made these remarks at a peace ceremony between the Wisai Liberation Movement and the Wisai Mekamui group in Buin, South Bougainville.
President Momis called on the Wisai factions to remove all weapons of destruction saying war was over on Bougainville and stop fighting to make way for peace.
He told the people that it was issues such as weapons that would limit the way to referendum and eventual independence.
Mr Momis said Bougainville had already signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement witnessed by the world and it is a shame that conflicts are still escalating.
He appealed strongly to the people of Wisai to honour the peace agreement and allow for peace as the agreement signed is the sovereign will of the people of Bougainville.
Mr Momis urged the people that it is this commitment that will lead our destiny to a better Bougainville in future.
03.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Eluh lauds efforts
By JOYCE TOHUI
BOUGAINVILLE Police Chief ACP Thomas Eluh has applauded all peace efforts in south Bougainville.
He said that he was happy for the initiative the former combatants and factions had taken to come together and make peace.
ACP Eluh was in Wisai recently to witness a reconciliation between two rival groups from the area the Wisai Liberation Movement (WILMO) and the Wisai Mekamui.
He said that he was moved by the step the factions took to bring back peace to their area.
Mr Eluh challenged the two disputing parties to uphold the peace initiative taken and not to repeat such actions.
He urged the people of Wisai that the solution of peace and harmony was in their hearts and nowhere else.
He told the people that it was themselves that would bring peace to their areas and not people from outside.
Meanwhile, the speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Andrew Miriki praised the people of Wisai for the initiative they took to reconcile two rival groups in the area.
03.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Atoi calls for food security
By JOYCE TOHUI
NORTH Bougainville MP Lauta Atoi is calling on all Bougainville leaders to put food security as a top priority.
He was addressing the gathering at the World Food Day celebrations at Eltupan village at Haku constituency.
Mr Atoi said as a man from the Atolls who has the experience of facing food shortage, he wanted the leaders of Bougainville to join hands and fund the work of food security in the region.
He assured the people of North Bougainville that as their member, he will do his best to help them in terms of food security. MR Atoi appealed to his people to work on their land to sustain their living and not to wait for free handouts from the government.
He said he believed Bougainville is blessed with food and the people must revive the attitude of barter system to exchange food with people who are in need.
03.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Onsa: Honour K3m
By JOYCE TOHUI
BUKA businessman Henry Onsa is calling on the PNG National Government to honour the commitment of K3 million made to rehabilitate the Buka town street roads by the former Finance and Treasury Minister, Peter O’Neill when he officially opened the Buka market in April this year.
Mr Onsa said that the K3 million pledge was made by the former Minister after visiting the deteriorating state of the Buka town roads which had been neglected for years.
The former Minister, now Prime Minister, was accompanied by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs then and the Regional Member for Bougainville.
Mr Onsa said that he has advised the National Member for North Bougainville, Lauta Atoi to follow up this commitment because the change of government could change this commitment.
Henry Onsa also called on Bougainville Members of Parliament, Regional Member, Fidelis Semoso and Ministers for Communications, Jimmy Miringtoro and Bougainville Affairs Minister, Steven Kama to follow up this commitment.
He said that the Buka town roads were in very bad condition and needed to be upgraded.
02.11.2011
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek
China 2015 Copper Demand to Reach 12.5 Million Tons, Minmetals
Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- China’s refined copper consumption is expected to reach 12.5 million metric tons in 2015, said chief analyst at China Minmetals Corp. This represents a 79 percent jump from 7 million tons of real consumption this year, according to Bloomberg News calculations based on estimates by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.
Copper prices will stay elevated and volatile in 2012 as the metal continues to be the top pick by funds, according to presentation slides prepared by Minmetals’ Zhang Ronghui for Antaike’s copper conference in Jinan.
--Helen Sun. Editors: Richard Dobson, Jarrett Banks
02.11.2011
Source: Namorong Report
Chinese challenge Bougainvillean retailers
Posted by Martyn Namorong
Bougainville owned shops at Kokopou, Autonomous region of Bougainville
There currently are tensions between the local business community and the new arrival of Chinese businesses on Bougainville. A much talked about Import/Export Company and the proposed Happy City have drawn battle-lines in the bloody sands of this war-torn region.
Recently, youth at Kokopou on the main island of Bougainville have issued threats and stoned the warehouse of the Import/Export Company. However, some Bougainvilleans see the entry of these new Chinese competitors as a godsend as they provide much needed competition particularly in the retail sector. There is one thing that both sides agree upon; that the entry of any external investments should be tied in with local partners.
Bougainville’s investment policy on the other hand, only refers to partnerships in the context of large scale Natural Resource extraction. Small scale resource extraction and trade activities are reserved for Bougainvilleans. Now for legal purposes, a Bougainvillean is defined under section 7 of the Bougainville Constitution as someone who by custom has rights in traditional Bougainvillean society.
Some critics of the Chinese retailers have accused them of qualifying as ‘Bougainvillean’ by marriage [section 7 (b) of the Constitution]. Whilst it is not illegal for outsiders to run retail outlets, the consensus amongst Bougainvilleans is that this should be reserved for locals. By marrying local women, the Chinese businessmen have ‘localized’ their businesses thus somewhat legitimizing their existence. This has drawn the ire of Bougainvillean owned businesses that now have to compete with the Chinese.
Not everyone on Bougainville sees the Chinese retailers as bad. Some welcome the entry of the Chinese as they feel they they’ve been ripped-off for far too long by the locally owned businesses. They have seen the benefits of competition in terms of pricing of goods. For example, a pair of flip-flops that cost K15 in a local shop cost about K9 in the Chinese run shops.
In recognition of the tensions that exist, the Government of Bougainville has created a Chinese Business Consultative Committee to look into the matter. This committee has however been viewed with skepticism by some particularly because they view President John Momis as being pro-China.
02.11.2011
Source: Post-Courier
Manetai project on track
By PETERSON TSERAHA
THE re-opening of the Manetai limestone project is now on the right track after the first-ever combined traditional chiefs’ consensus forum was held.
Spearheaded by the member for Eivo Torau in the Autonomous Bougainville Government Melchior Dare, the forum was held on October 27 at camp five in the no-go-zone area, in which an ultimatum was made to the ABG to fund major high impact reconciliation by combined traditional chiefs to create a conducive environment to fast-track negotiations.
Village chiefs as well as women representatives from the villages of Avaipa, Amatato, Asikopan, Simeku and Eivo Torau constituency attended.
In attendance also were ABG members for Eivo Torau, Melchior Dare; South Nasioi member John Ken and the IPA officer in Buka.
The chiefs in the meeting reviewed the first mediation report which was totally biased and was a serious offence and the law now should take its course on those responsible.
The Manetai limestone is rightfully owned by the Awora clan and not the Makiara clan as awarded by the first mediators and the land mediation panel.
The spokesman for Awora clan Simon Akapitus said on the ground, honesty had to prevail according to traditional land knowledge by chiefs.
“We the chiefs want to fix ourselves first before anything can happen to re-open the limestone project; we know now who the real landowners are and that is the first step, then we need to reconcile and then open the limestone,” Mr Akapitus said.
ABG member Melchior Dare stressed the importance of the project and how it can benefit everyone in the area.
“The opening of the limestone project is crucial for our benefit and the ABG can make revenue out from it,’’ Mr Dare said. Mr Dare stressed that the former Bougainville Development Cooperation (BDC) subsidiary project of Manetai limestone had aimed to complicate the land ownership title and benefit sharing. The appointment of former land representatives directors were only BDC agents and not legitimate landowners. Meanwhile, chiefs have fully pledged support for the re-opening of the Manetai limestone project.
02.11.2011
Source: The National
Peace groups to get grants
TEN civil society groups from Fiji, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, will receive small grants between US$2500 (K5,330) and US$10,000 (K21,321) in 2011 to continue peace building efforts in the Pacific region.
This was announced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre in Suva, Fiji.
The winners of the 2011 Round of Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development (CPAD) project’s small grants include Bougainville (North Bougainville Women’s Federation, Hako Women’s Collective, Leitana Nehan Women’s Collective); Fiji (FemLINK PACIFIC); Papua New Guinea (Voice of Change, Simbu Human Rights Advocate, Peace Foundation Melanesia); Solomon Islands (Sycamore Tree, Anglican Church of Melanesia) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), a Pacific-wide programme.
In its second year, the small grant initiative is one of the capacity building approaches of the CPAD project.
It seeks to support strategic and catalytic peace-building projects that address the key conflict drivers, strengthen the region’s peace and security architecture and foster partnerships between government and civil society groups.
UNDP Pacific centre’s conflict prevention and peace building expert, Tracy Vienings said that an objective of the CPAD project was to create a broader understanding of the linkages between peace and development, and how to address the underlying causes of conflict, not only mediating them as they occur.
The first round small grants in 2010 were given out to 10 civil society groups from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Solomon Islands. CPAD is a regional programme of the UNDP Pacific Centre that aims to build and strengthen the capacities of governments, civil societies and regional organisations in the Pacific for conflict preventions and peace-building.
01.11.2011
Source: Post Courier
Millions of kina not acquitted
By GORETHY KENNETH
THERE is nothing to show for in North Bougainville despite millions of kina earmarked each year through the Open MPs District Services Improvement Project funds since 2007, an audit report details.
The 2009 Audit Report for Bougainville is about to be completed – the 2008 Audit Report is no different – monies for the north Bougainville people have not properly accounted for and the same is now happening for the 2009 funds, the audit report has revealed.
The auditors who recently visited Buka Island to carry out their duty to call up authorities responsible for these financial capacities said Central and South Bougainville DSIP funds had evidence of projects.
They said under the report, a major problem has been that third parties (named) were being involved to transact people’s money and were not acquitted properly.
These companies are in Buka with four named to be heavily implicated in these use of public funds.
One company still has not acquitted about K1 million worth of water tank supplies which was meant for the people of north Bougainville, which has not been distributed to date.
The other companies have had public money transacted into private accounts, which are termed as illegal.
“There is nothing to show for in North Bougainville.
“There is no project to show for the millions of kina approved and allocated for the people of north Bougainville.
“The North Bougainville Treasury has not done its duty of properly acquitting these millions of kina.
“We sent a management letter to the ABG and the north Bougainville Treasury on issues of public monies under the north Bougainville District funds.
“We did not receive any response since last year so we decided to come and investigate so our final audit report can be presented officially to show where monies belonging to the people of Bougainville are being used,” said the auditors.
01.11.2011
Source: Post Courier
Momis tours atolls
BOUGAINVILLE President John Momis has been touring the Atolls since Friday and was expected to return to Buka yesterday.
Several ABG Ministers and the Chief Administrator Lawrence Dising and other leaders and business elite are also on the trip.
The ABG leadership led by Mr Momis are on board the newly presented MV Bougainville Atolls. They are visiting Fead and Carterets Islands.
On Sunday morning, Mr Momis and his entourage had a high mass with the people of Carterets Islanders and in Fead, Mr Momis promised that the ABG would prioritise the islanders in their economic strategies.
The Carterets Islanders are expected to question Mr Momis on the issue of resettlement which is long overdue and the help for their economic means including health and education priorities. An interview with the president should be held upon his arrival.
01.11.2011
Source: Post Courier - The Drum
Suicidal move
WHO is this national MP from Bougainville who is going around selling plantations to foreigners without consulting the community? People of Bougainville are saying even if they have to sleep under the coconut trees, they will because that tree is literally their bank! Not a bright move at all. Copra is the island’s gold mine and plantations, formerly owned by multinational companies, need to be disposed of with all involved.
01.11.2011
Source: Post Courier - The Drum
OVERNIGHT SUCCESS
PEOPLE around the Autonmous Region of Bougainville are looking a bit suspiciously at how the wife of a politician from the area seemed to have amassed quite a bit in such a short time by hubby. She has a few interests around the traps in the bubblling region. Always good to know where.
01.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Lack of infrastructure slowing Bougainville's economic recovery
There's been no quick turnaround in the economy of post-conflict Bougainville.
Among the positive signs are the beginnings of recovery in the cocoa industry and village market places are again booming.
The list of problems is much longer - most disturbing is that only one in three children are going to school - and the lack of roads, bridges and other community infrastructure is a major concern.
Presenter:Geraldine Coutts
Speaker:Dr Charles Yala, research associate, PNG National Research Institute
Listen here !
01.11.2011
Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat
Opportunities lost for Bougainville's 'Lost Generation'
The Lost Generation is a term used to describe Bougainville's young people who lost one or both parents during the crisis in the 1990s.
Growing up without social support, the mostly male adolescents... recognisable by their black T-shirts and red bandandas... are turning to drug and alcohol abuse to cope with their situation.
Presenter:Geraldine Coutts
Speaker:Sister Lorraine Garasu, Chabai Nazareth Rehabilitation Centre, Bougainville;
Augustine Kinna, Bougainville journalist
Listen here !
KINNA: The Bougainville's Lost Generation remembering I was there, the generation itself like you've said they like wearing black t-shirts and the red band on their heads. And most of the children grew up during the crisis and I think they were traumatised having seen their mothers tortured, violence was within the family and having seen their fathers, brothers shot dead, it was really a traumatic time. So most of the children who grew up during that period of the crisis, when the crisis was over they have this feeling that they had to do something, they had to separate themselves from the rest of the community by wearing such t-shirts and also the red bands on their heads. And it was a common practice for many of the lost generation. Most of them were from the period of the crisis who grew up inbetween, inbetween the crisis and towards the end of the crisis.
COUTTS: Alrigh Augustine I'll just get you to hold on there and stay with us because I just want to introduce someone else now because some say that the situation seems hopeless for many Bougainvilleans, lost generation, and some young men have become social outcasts struggling to cope with their situation and turning to anti-social behaviour; drug and alcohol as we've just heard. But there's one woman who's trying to make a difference, Sister Lorraine Garasu runs Chabai Nazareth, the only rehabilitation centre in Bougainville, and it's a self-funded program helping these young men put their lives back on track. Sister Lorraine joins us now from Bougainville. Sister Lorraine good morning to you.
GARASU: Good morning Geraldine.
COUTTS: And as you may or may not have heard, we've already got Augustine Kinna here whom you must be familiar with, but can you just tell me to what extent these young outcasts, the lost generation, how many in number are they going around with these black t-shirts and red bandanas?
GARASU: Geraldine in my work I don't talk about lost generation, I know that's the term used for young people in Bougainville who are struggling to get out of their experience from the crisis. What I talk about is young people, and I believe that if you keep labelling people then psychologically it does not help. So I talk about young people and the young people that I work with they come from all over Bougainville, and I believe that these young people they have potential it's just that they have never been given the opportunity. And for me there's really no lost generation. I think what we need to understand here is that the young people are there, what they have lost is time, time and opportunity.
COUTTS: Are you able to get any of these young people back into school and get them off their alcohol and drug addictions?
GARASU: Ever since the ceasefire in 1998, there are several gorups and people and the education department who have tried to help these young people get back into school. And the thing is that we need to understand the education system that is there today. Many young people go to school but they drop out at grade eight, and then they drop out of grade ten, and then they drop out at grade 12 because there's not much opportunity in Bougainville for these young people to make a go of their lives. Even though we have vocational schools, many of these young people are not able to access vocational schools because of the system of education that is there. And also many people in Bougainville still struggle to survive after the crisis because they've lost a lot, they've lost properties, they've lost money, and to bring that kind of land back that they had before the crisis when they had things to support themselves, money to support themselves, to send their children to school, that has not happened, even 10 years, even 12 years after the crisis, we are still struggling with getting people to bring back their lives to a certain level where they can sustain their lives.
COUTTS: Alright we've got Augustine Kinna Sister in the studio with us at the moment, he's a PNG journalist working with the ABC at the moment. Augustine you fit comfortably yourself, your age group into that, so you've gone on to be a journalist, so what's the difference, why were you able to go on, become a journalist, stay in school as distinct from the adolescents that Sister is describing?
KINNA: The reason why I had the opportunity because during the crisis I wasn't in Bougainville. My father worked at the Ok Tedi mine so he took us out. So I wasn't really in Bougainville that time, so I had the opportunity to do my education outside of Bougainville, and it didn't affect my future. But like Sister Lorraine said it's very true, the young children who grew up in the crisis didn't have the chance, didn't have the opportunity to basic services such as education, that was very important, very vital. And when I went back to Bougainville, that was like 1995, the services weren't really good, there were still a bit of blockade and all this. But I went to school in 1995 I could remember I was doing my grade four year, and I went to school with a lot of big kids who grew during the crisis who didn't have the opportunity, and when the services started coming back they were ten years older than me and I was much younger than them. But in a way I saw that it's an opportunity for them. Some were already mothers when they came to school, they had one or two children, some were already fathers. But in a way we respected one another, they respected us, the smaller ones, and we the smaller ones respected them. And we collaborated together and they lent some, they got educated.
COUTTS: Sister Lorraine, back to you now because we've already heard from Professor Yala saying that it was one in three children don't go to schools and haven't got the opportunity. He said there is a slight rebound happening in some areas of the economy. What are you saying to the Bougainville administration now as to what you think should happen for these children who have lost the opportunity, as Augustine says it may have passed them by?
GARASU: I think what the Bougainville government needs to do is to ... and they are already doing it, I'm not saying that they are not, they are trying their very best. But when you lack resources to do something like even the government does not have the money to do many of these things that they can do, like what they need to do is to currently play for the situation. In their social planning they need to actually plan to address issues of rehabilitation, and rehabilitation is not just about rehabilitating you, but the entire infrastructure. And they've been able to do that, they've been able to do that with donor funding like some AusAid, and even from European Union they've been able to rehabilitate some infrastructure like schools and health centre. But the planning needs to be done at the level where you're actually looking at addressing what are the priority needs. At the moment psychologically the trauma experienced by many Bougainvilleans have not been healed. Trauma healing has not been done at an extensive level. I mean what we are doing is just not enough compared to the trauma that is ingrained in the minds and the hearts of the people.
COUTTS: Sister Lorraine Garasu we're just about out of time but I'd like to ask you if the youths that are running around in their black shirts and red bandanas are prepared to forego that, and take off the black shirts and red bandanas, is this going to be a destabilising influence in the future if these young youths don't have positions within the communities?
GARASU: Yeah definitely, I see it, I mean you can think this is ten years later after the ceasefire and it's happening now, we are seeing it clearly, it's happening. But it depends, thre are pockets in Bougainville where it happens at the very small level, some at the medium level, and most places at the higher level. Currently I'm in south Bougainville and I came here on a weekend on a Saturday, and you could see relatively in some areas it was very quiet, you didn't see any drunkards on the road. But in some pockets we passed drunken people on the road, young people and that. So it depends very much, it also depends on how leaders in the community are maintaining the leadership and the organising and the stabilising of the community. So all these things impact on how young people behave, or how people are behaving in general.
