Miss Pacific calls for unity as negative comments made against her

Posted by The National

MISS Pacific Leoshina Kariha has called for unity among Pacific island people in the wake of a negative comment made against her at a function in Nukualofa, Tonga last weekend.
She said in a statement the comment was made against her by someone in the VIP area during the crowning of the Miss Heilala (Miss Tonga) pageant last Friday.
“That is something that is never nice to hear but (was) said by one individual,” Kariha said .
She did not specify what was said against her but posts on social media had branded it “racist”.
“This is a time to put aside our differences and unite,” Kariha said
“For too long there has been a division between the sub-regions of the Pacific, which needs to stop.
“We can’t negatively label an entire group because of the harmful actions of a single person.
“And we can’t jump to conclusions over one post on social media.
“I am more hurt by the statements of our own people throwing hateful comments at each other.
“Be quick to listen and slow to anger. “We can’t let the minority dampen our spirit of Pacific Unity and spoil such an empowering platform as Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, which preserves cultures and showcases the beauty and intelligence of our women.
“Now, this experience has presented us with the opportunity to use the platform to break stereotypes and boundaries among our own people.
“God would never have approved of this.
“We need to see the real enemy, not attack physical people.
“The true issue lies in the minds and attitude of our people which needs to be addressed at a regional level and we will use the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant platform to do just that.”
She was invited to be a guest at the Miss Heilala Festival.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/miss-pacific-calls-for-unity-as-negative-comments-made-against-her/

The bumpy road to realise multi-billion-kina agri park project

Posted by The National

THE K2.03 billion PNG-CIAIP project Memorandum-of-Agreement (MoA) was signed on Nov 20, 2017.
It was initially estimated to cost K1.1 billion but the delay in launching the project has resulted in rising costs.
The projects in Western and Eastern Highlands are part of a massive US$4.46 billion (K15 billion) worth of impact projects to be funded by China.
The three projects are the US$4.1 billion (K13.8 billion) High Priority Economic Road Project, PNG-CIAIPP projects in Western and Eastern Highlands, and US$32 million (K108 million) Goroka Town Water Supply Upgrade Project.
“In 1997, then Agriculture Minister Tukape Masani launched what was known as the Juncao Mushroom Project in Lufa. The project grew and Lufa mushrooms were very popular in shops and markets.
“However, the project was short-lived due to various reasons (including politics),” said PNG-CIAIPP team leader Brian “Mushroom” Waii who spearheaded the Juncao Mushroom Project.
Waii recalled: “In 1995, I was accepted to study in the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, and at that time Chinese President Xi Jinping was Governor of Fujian province.
“I happened to be was one of the first students to take on mushroomology. At the graduation, we made a commitment to industrialise and popularise this technology all over the world.
“I negotiated for this project to be transferred to Eastern Highlands and in 1997, we got it implemented. The project ran well, with Chinese experts coming in, and we had full budget support from the late Mathias Karani (former Lufa MP) and then Governor Peti Lafanama.
“We opened up markets in Port Moresby, with high-profile clients including the late Sir Brian Bell and former Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, and we were doing well until some political changes forced the project closure,” he added.
Waii said when former Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso was elected in 2012, she tried to initiate discussions on the project, but failed.
“I then had talks with the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby, as well as Fujian province, and the consensus was that the project should be resurrected on a commercial basis.
“We were looking for a commercial vehicle and CRI was already in PNG. So, we went into agreement and had further discussions with Eastern and Western Highlands provincial governments, as well as the DAL.
“The agreement was signed and the project was ready to take off. The initial plan was for Xi to visit Eastern Highlands during the 2018 Asean Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit and endorse the project but this was delayed again by unforeseen circumstances,” he added.Numu … timing right for agri parks
One of the main reasons for Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu’s joining the Opposition in January was the delay in the PNG-CIAIPP, part of which is to be located in Korofeigu in his province.
He had been waiting, since November 2017, for the project to be launched.

Left: Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu

Numu said Eastern Highlands was a province not well endowed with mineral wealth, dependent largely on agriculture and tourism to drive its domestic economy.
“As the Governor, I know that coffee is the future of my people. It will create employment opportunities and help them to become financially independent.
“The Chinese have an established market. All they wanted was just freshly-produced coffee which my people could cultivate and supply abundantly. But since the signing (in November 2017), nothing has happened. We have not even received any coffee derivation grants, functional grants, projects funds and many other funding.
“Water is a big problem, especially in Goroka Town. Under the PNG-CIAIPP, we are thankful to the Chinese government for taking the initiative to set up the water supply project in Goroka.
“This will relieve the provincial government of the burden. It is a big project and we will be looking at good people, with management skills and technical knowhow, to look after the water project,” he said.
Numu said the “timing is right” for the agriculture industrial park as it is in line with one of my provincial government’s priority to raise the level of the agriculture sector.
“The PNG-CIAIPP will no doubt trigger agricultural activities, bringing in more rewards in terms of revenue to farmers,” he added.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/the-bumpy-road-to-realise-multi-billion-kina-agri-park-project/

PNG’s link to 65 countries, 29 per cent of global GDP

Posted by The National

THE construction of the PNG-CIAIPP was signed in November 2017 between PNG’s authorities and CRI under China’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt Road Initiative (BRI).
The signing was to facilitate the transfer of State land-use rights for the construction of agricultural industrial parks that feature godown facilities for the shipping of fresh green produce exports to China.
Under the agreement, the Chinese company will own the right to use land in the Eastern and Western Highlands for 99 years for BRI-linked agriculture industrial parks.
PNG’s active participation in the construction of the BRI-linked infrastructure will greatly enhance PNG’s socio-economic growth by generating enormous opportunities for international and regional cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to PNG Xue Bing told Xinhua last year.
In 2014, China and PNG established a strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development, which has charted the course of the development of bilateral relations.
Two years later, the two countries signed several cooperation documents, including a framework agreement on development cooperation on production capacity to bring their cooperation into the BRI “express lane”.
In May 2018, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank approved PNG’s application to join the bank, which has accelerated the pace of PNG to participate in the BRI construction.
PNG is rich in natural resources, including mineral reserves, forests, agricultural and fishery resources, with the fishery sea zone covering an area of 2.4 million sq/km.
“All of these are priority areas for the two countries to enhance industry cooperation under the BRI,” Xue said.
PNG is set to benefit from greater international trade opportunities due to BRI’s global trade network that aims to trigger cross-border business activities.
BRI was unveiled and implemented by China in September and Octorber 2013 to revive a new silk route to open doors to vast opportunities in trade, business and investment.
It ventures into trans-border bilateral and joint-cooperation in various fields and sectors – education, medical research, tourism and cultural promotion, technology and industries, digital economy, just to name a few – for mutual benefits.
BRI was mooted by China’s paramount leader Xi Jinping to leverage on each other’s strengths for the greater benefit of Asean’s 650 million populace.
Initially launched as China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Initiative, it was renamed BRI and today the infrastructure links, by road, railway, sea and air stretch from China to the Middle-East, Africa, Europe, Russia and the Scandinavian and Nordic countries and Asia and Southeast Asia.
HSBC Holdings Plc group executive Stuart Gulliver had described BRI as reshaping the future world economy by:

• IMPROVING the infrastructure of overland and maritime routes to drive trade and capital flows between the east and the west;
• CONNECTING more than 65 countries across Europe, Asia and Africa covering 63% of the world’s population and 29% of global Gross Domestic Product, and ultimately making it easier for goods and services to reach the growing middle classes as their disposable income increases; and
• ENGAGING with companies of all types and sizes both inside and out of China in the infrastructure, telecommunications, trade, sustainability and financing sectors covering manufacturers, raw goods suppliers and logistics providers as well as financial and professional services firms, and more.
  BRI’s infrastructure funding in Asia alone is expected to cost at least US$1.7 trillion (K6.6 trillion).

HSBC chief executive for Greater China said: “We see this as a big opportunity for a lot of people, not just for China, but for the destination countries and for any companies who work on such projects. It will certainly stimulate economic development along BRI.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pngs-link-to-65-countries-29-per-cent-of-global-gdp/

Tender Reforms Improve

By LUKE KAMA - The National

IMPROVING transparency and efficiency in the national procurement system is an important ingredient for national development, an official says.
Acting chief executive officer of the National Procurement Commission (NPC) Simon Bole (pictured) is in charge of the reforms facilitating the transition from the old Central Supplies and Tenders Board (CSTB) to the new commission.
“Prime Minister James Marape made the right decision to undertake a reform and modernise our procurement system when he was the Finance Minister in the O’Neill-led government,” he said.
Bole said the CSTB system was established 40 years ago to deal with tenders of contract in millions of kina.
“But now, we are in a changing world where the volume of our procurement has increased to hundreds of millions and into the billions of kina,” he said.
“At the same time, we need to have a procurement system where there is one authority and one reporting and auditing system so there is order and accountability in managing government contracts and supply of goods and services.
“The CSTB does not have a proper reporting system.
“These and other important legacies issues are all addressed in the National Procurement Commission reform.”
Except for State-owned enterprises, he said statutory authorities and State agencies should procure their contracts through the NPC processes and guidelines.
“We are already in the process of implementing the NPC,” Bole said.
“I always emphasise to my staff every Monday morning during our staff devotion to perform their duties honestly and transparently.
“We have a public complaint box at our office where we encourage people to lodge complaints on allegations of fraud or corruption concerning our staff.
“We receive their complaint and go through them accordingly and so far, we have already suspended three senior officers from the commission on allegations of fraud and corruption.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/tender-reforms-improve/

Life is Mysterious

By Ruth Jewels Kissam

I pulled out of 2nd year law school nearly twenty years ago because at that time it felt like the right thing to do to fulfill family obligations. I also had TIME or so I thought I had! So I worked odd jobs and put my younger siblings through school, helped look after my sick mum and was the youth leader of my Warrior Hearts Youth at the AOG church down at Warakum, Mt. Hagen all the while, thinking I'd still go back and complete my studies and be a hotshot lawyer!

Twenty years on and I still don't have the coveted Bamboo from UPNG but my journey as been nothing short of fulfilling. I buried my mum in another man's land, watched my three younger siblings grow into men, have families and have their own lives and later buried my dad. I walked trails infested with leeches with medical supplies, brought food and clothes to rural clinic and communities, climbed many mountains to go to 'just over there' to encourage and inspire rural young people to have hope for a better PNG. Worked with rural communities to extend their airstrips, refurbish their aid posts and build schools, worked in settlement to empower girls, organized communities to take ownership of their problems and worked with churches to take holistic approaches to social ills. I had become passionate about this journey that I had unintentionally taken off the main track of life that I was on initially.

While pursuing my passion I realized I needed capacity building because I had no idea what I was doing, so I searched the internet for fully-funded short training courses. Fully-funded because I was poor as a church mouse. During one of the searches for community solutions, I came across US Government sponsored Community Solutions Program (CSP) and I thought, what the heck - just try. I applied and I got accepted and became the first Papua New Guinean (We have since had five PNGeans go through) and I got to be offered my current job with PNG Tribal Foundation, while I was still on the program over in the States in 2015.

I have since then gone on for a lot of capacity building workshops and trainings around the world and one of my highlight was going to one of the world's leading University in the US and the world for that matter - Stanford University!! This time as a Draper-Hills Fellow at the Centre on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law in 2017 (again a first for a Papua New Guinean for this fellowship) for three weeks. Again my selection to this program was also a miracle because I still had no bamboo but I was butting heads with some of the best in the world!

Being selected for the Obama Foundation Scholars program for the 2019-2020 cohort is a very big thing for me. Obama Foundation believes in 'the next generation of global leaders, so the Obama Foundation Scholars program partners with Columbia and UChicago to combine academic research with one-of-a-kind experiences led by the Obama Foundation. The program’s aim is to empower emerging leaders who have a proven commitment to service with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective upon their return home.'

The news of my selection to the prestigious Obama Foundation Scholars Program came out 10 days before my Dad's first anniversary of his passing, 18th June. It was a bittersweet moment for me but also fitting because my Dad, he had to make me happy on what was a painful month for me. He taught me while growing up that I could do anything my five brothers can do even though he was an Engan man, made me believe I could change my world and I BELIEVED HIM.

I am honored and deeply humbled by all the well-wishes, and congratulatory messages from everyone across PNG and my friends who are celebrating with me from abroad. The outpouring of love has been overwhelming and I really appreciate you and thank you from my heart.

I wrote this long writeup in the hope that my journey can inspire some of you who feel you've strayed off the main path to find your footing, have hope and keep moving. It wasn't easy and all "primrose path of dalliance' but a lot of sacrifice in terms of self, time, love, marriage, a family, dreams and lastly - life!

But as I look back I have no regrets. If I were to choose again, I'd still my choose my family over me but that's because I am a headstrong daughter of an amazing father so I dedicate this fellowship to my dad for introducing me to His God who has helped me, nurtured me, strengthened me and graced me with His wisdom to be the best I can be.

Ruth Jewels Kissam
Obama Fellow 2019-2020

Go to this link for more: https://worldprojects.columbia.edu/news/columbia-world-projects-announces-next-cohort-obama-foundation-scholars

Judicial recount for Kandep, Hela to cost K7.5mil: EC

Posted by The National

THE Electoral Commission has clarified that the judicial recounts for the Kandep open seat in Enga and the Hela provincial seat will cost around K7.5 million.
The commission clarified a report in The National yesterday which said the recount was expected to cost around K16.45 million.
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, pictured, said the report was incorrect and misleading.
“The amount (K16.45 million) is the total cost of all the eight judicial recounts that were ordered by the Court of Disputed Returns after the 2017 national election,” he said.
“Budget for Kandep open judicial recount is around K3 million, Hela provincial seat is around K4.5 million so its K7.5 million and not K16.45 million.”
Gamato said the budget of K16.45 million included K900,000 for the recount of Central Bougainville, K900,000 for Samarai-Murua open in Milne Bay, K650,000 for Sohe open in Northern, an estimated K1.5million for the Goroka open seat in the Eastern Highlands, K2.5million for West Sepik provincial, K2.5 million for Chimbu provincial, an estimated K4.5 million for Hela provincial and K3 million for Kandep open.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/judicial-recount-for-kandep-hela-to-cost-k7-5mil-ec/