THE Ambua Lodge in Tari, Hela, has reopened for business, according to Trans Niugini Tours. General manager Andrew Neufeld said the lodge was closed following the earthquake last year and unrest in the area. “Ambua Lodge is one of Papua New Guinea’s most unique and famous locations and is a favourite amongst cultural and birding enthusiasts from around the globe,” Neufeld said. “In August 2018, Trans Niugini Tours made the difficult decision to close the lodge indefinitely, after the area suffered from a substantial earthquake followed by a period of civil unrest. “During the closure, we closely monitored the local security situation, repaired earthquake damage and made improvements and renovations. “One of the first things returning guests may notice is the new floor with in-floor heating in the main lodge,” he said. Neufeld said a four-month soft reopening of Ambua Lodge had gone well. “The local community supports the reopening and they are very excited to warmly welcome back our guests.” When asked how much was invested in the renovations and improvements, Neufeld said: “The cost of renovations is a bit tricky to pin down but it was probably K75,000.” to K100,000. The main thing is, it is looking good and open for all to come have a comfortable, safe and relaxing stay.” Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/tour-operator-reopens-lodge-after-earthquake-civil-unrest/
THE people of Bougainville have voted overwhelmingly – 97.7 per cent of the total vote cast – for independence from PNG, but will have to wait for the national parliament to ratify their political future.
The referendum, a requirement of the Bougainville Peace Agreement signed in 2001, was hailed a success and credible.
Prime Minister James Marape said: “I want to assure the people of Bougainville and all Papua New Guineans that the Government has heard your voice.”
Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President Dr John Momis said: “It is successful in my view. It has been a peaceful outcome. This has set a good standard for us to follow in what we do in future.”
New Ireland Governor and former prime minister Sir Julius Chan said: “If they choose to be independent, let them have that. It doesn’t mean they are leaving us. It is better to stand on your own feet than to constantly wait for handouts from Waigani.”
Bougainvile Affairs Minister Sir Puka Temu however clarified that the referendum was “non-binding”.
He said the next step was the consultation process, which had no time frame, between the Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“The consultation – I don’t know how long it will take – will determine Bougainvile’s economical status, movement and residential status of Bougainvilleans in Papua New Guinea and other political, economical and social issues that will affect Bougainvilleans,” he said.
Bougainville Referendum Commissioners (back from left), Dr Thomas Webster, Patrick Nisira, Ruby Mirinka, Robert Igara, Chairman Bertie Ahern and George Manu (seated) signing off the counting results in Buka, North Bougainville yesterday. – Picture supplied
“Even if over 80 per cent of the (voters wanted) independence, it will not be ratified by Parliament (immediately). There is still a long process to go.
“The outcome of the consultation will come to Parliament for ratification to determine the final political future”.
He said it was a requirement in the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
Meanwhile, Bougainville Referendum Commission chairman Bertie Ahern is happy with the outcome, and how the whole process was conducted.
He described it as “something very special”.
“This electoral process, and the way it has been conducted, has captured the imagination of the world,” he said.
“The singing, the dancing, the celebration. There have been tears of joy and tears of raw emotion. People have waited a long time.
“We have heard many say that this referendum has reached across old divides, old conflicts and old wounds, and brought Bougainville together. As a long time-peace builder, this really is music to my ears.”
During his many trips around Bougainville, he always reminded the people that peace “really is a process”.
“It is not a word. It is not an end point. It is not the final whistle in a game,” he said.
Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea welcomes any investments in the petroleum sector. He said this during a meeting with representatives of Japanese investor, LNG Japan Corporation, in Port Moresby last week. The LNG Japan delegation was led by President and CEO Hiroshi Kawahara (pictured above with Prime Minister Marape).
LNG Japan is studying feasibility of potential LNG-to-power projects in PNG, leveraging its long experiences in the LNG industry, including a small-scale domestic LNG sea transportation project in Indonesia. It is also looking at producing methanol as a raw material for plywood manufacture, hence, contributing to downstream processing of logs. National Planning Minister Sam Basil (who is responsible for Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd), Commerce and Industry Minister William Duma, and KPHL Managing-Director Wapu Sonk also attended the meeting. “I will give 100 per cent support if you show me that you can create employment,” Prime Minister Marape said. “I don’t mind giving you a tax-holiday, if you can create employment for our citizens.” Prime Minister Marape welcomed LNG Japan Corporation plans to operate in Kikori, Gulf, where a Special Economic Zone is planned to be built. “We want to create cheap electricity for the whole country over the next 10 years,” he said. “This is why we are pushing for a minimum 10 per cent of any gas found in the future. “Kumul Petroleum will pick up this 10 per cent and use it. “We will want to create by-products from this gas, but first and foremost, is cheap electricity.” Prime Minister Marape told Sonk to continue discussions with LNG Japan Corporation and keep Ministers Basil and Duma in the loop LNG Japan Corporation, established in 2001, is a 50-50 Venture between two leading Japanese trading companies, Sojitz Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation. LNG Japan, from the days of its predecessor, has over 40 years of experience in upstream development, financing, marketing, trading and shipping in the global LNG Industry. LNG Japan and Kumul Petroleum entered into a joint venture agreement on June 7, 2017 (amended on August 2, 2018) to set up the unincorporated joint venture for marketing of spot and short-term cargoes from PNG LNG. The company, together with JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Corporation and Marubeni Corporation (Japanese consortium) and Kumul Petroleum entered into a memorandum-of-understanding on August 30, 2018, to jointly pursue any opportunities to participate in the Papua LNG Project, as equity participants and financiers. *** Go to this link for more: https://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2019/12/pm-marape-welcomes-japanese-investment.html
UNIVERSAL values can be achieved through partnership with genuine concern for the development of neighbouring nations, Rachael Marape says. The wife of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape made the comments at the 2019 Asia Pacific First Ladies Summit in Palau. The summit involves wives of heads of government from the Asia Pacific region, who meet to discuss, deliberate and find solutions to the common issues faced in their countries. The theme for this year is “Addressing the critical challenges of our time: Interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values”. Giving the keynote address at the summit in Koror, Palau, yesterday, Marape said the event brought together people who were dedicated to the promotion of peace, prosperity and humanity in our countries. She said as spouses of heads of government, they had a lot of work to do, many were involved in the charity work of their countries as this was the work that supported their government’s development priorities. As the patron and advocator of the Saving Lives and Spreading Smiles Programme in PNG, Rachael Marape shared highlights of the programme and its benefit to mothers and babies in the country. She said in the face of the challenging economic times, the government of PNG is making sure that the country continues to maintain spending on healthcare, particularly as this relates to the wellbeing of mothers and babies. She added that the PNG government would continue to work with partners in the international community to bring the best technologies, medicines and research and importantly, to work with churches.
PNG Power Limited has assured its customers that there will be no disruptions to electricity supply during the festive season, and beyond. The assurance came from chief executive officer Douglas Mageo after the company paid the K50 million it owed Puma Energy to restore its regular supply of fuel. PNG Power had been waiting for some time for the Government to pay the K50m, forcing the power supplier to implement load-shedding around Port Moresby daily. Mageo said in statement since they now had “normalised” their payment terms with Puma Energy, they were getting the supply of fuel they needed. It means that load-shedding will be discontinued. Mageo warned, however that in cases of outages caused by “accidents or severe weather conditions”, PNG Power would try to quickly restore power supply. He also said they would be moving away from “100 per cent exposure to diesel” next year. “We will be moving away from 100 per cent exposure to diesel in Port Moresby and the other centres as well,” Mageo said in a statement. Mageo said the new NiuPower gas plant had also started supplying 10 megawaltz to the Port Moresby grid from Nov 28. This is expected to increase to 58 mw next year, with the commissioning of the 80mw transmission line. “This means PNG Power will not use diesel to generate power in Port Moresby,” Mageo said. “It will happen in other centres as well. The Ramu grid will be fully hydro-powered by the middle of 2020, followed by the Samarai Solar grid in Milne Bay, Divune hydropower plant in Oro and the refurbished Warangoi hydropower plant in East New Britain under PNG Power’s least cost generation path,” he said. The hydropower capacity at Ru Creek in Kimbe and Lake Hargy in Bialla have been restored. Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/end-to-power-cuts/
Miss Scuba PNG 2019 Ester in national attire at the pageant in Malaysia.
By BOURA GORUKILA - The NationalSHE failed to get a top-six placing in the 2019 Miss Scuba pageant in Malaysia recently but Serena Paul is so happy that she took part – for two reasons. One, the 26-year-old loves modelling. Two, she is an advocate for marine conservation, which the pageant was all about. “It was a new experience for me being alone to contest for the crown with 22 women from around the world with diverse backgrounds. “I also saw the importance of the initiative towards Miss Scuba International as it focuses in its work in protecting the oceans globally. I have learnt so much and proud to fly our flag.” Serena was born on Sept 16, 1993 at Moreguina Health Centre on the outskirts of Port Moresby. Dad Paul Kob Misob is from Central and mum Carla Vela Paul is from Madang. She is the third eldest in a family of seven. She started pre-elementary education at the Cocoalands Elementary School in 2000 when dad Paul was working as a Department of Agriculture and Livestock officer. The family moved to Upulima Station in 2004. She completed Year Eight in 2008. She attended Kupiano Secondary as a boarding student for four years. Serena graduated with a Higher Education Certificate in 2012, and attended the Institute of Business Studies for two years, graduating with a diploma. “I decided to get a job, and continue my studies when I was financially ready, since I had other siblings attending college as well.” In November 2014, she joined Digicel TVWAN. “I started as a sales executive. Now I am a media administrator.” She models “for leisure” and last year decided join Miss Scuba PNG. “It is quite different from other pageants I’ve come across, many of which embrace great causes, but none focused on our oceans. “It’s a platform to promote and advocate on marine conservation nationally and internationally. “Coming from a mixed parentage of the two beautiful provinces of Madang and Central, I believe in my values as an islander to protect marine biodiversity for my family, my community, my nation and our future generations. “For a long time we haven’t valued our biological diversity and this platform displays the importance of maintaining the functionality and productivity of the ecosystem. “This pageant celebrates not only the inner beauty and courage but also advocates worldwide marine conservation.” PNG Modeling Agency director Jemaema Koike explains that the judging categories included talent acts, national attire, swim wear, public speaking and knowledge in marine conservation. “We missed out on the six finalists but I’m happy that PNG participated this year which is the second time since 2017.” Miss Scuba Australia won the pageant. She won a one-year contract to work with Miss Scuba International. She will travel the world as an ambassador/advocate on saving the ocean globally with worldwide sponsors. Serena enjoyed her two weeks in Malaysia. “It has been the most challenging journey in my life. Yes, not everything goes the way you planned and this has made me stronger than I was. Building self-confidence, opportunities, community involvement and lessons you learn that guide and build you as an individual.”
I write in this instance to clarify on our government’s one of three signature policies and encourage all of you educated PNGeans to do your bit by disseminating information to your family , your tribes, your associates for clarity and participation.
We have higher education loan program ( HELP) that should embrace all citizens and residents who leave school at year 8, year 10 and year 12; we also have the CONNECT PNG program that should link all our districts , provinces and country with enabling infrastructures like roads, power and communications; and we have our business incubation policy.
This write up will discuss on the business policy and our government’s desire to get more of our people , educated and non educated, rural and urbanite , female and male, nambis na hilans, Papuan, New Guinean and Bougainvillian, all able PNGeans to go into business in the next 10 years and beyond.
In our 2020 budget, we put K200million following on from the K100 miliion we set aside in 2019 supplementary budget for Micro, Small and Medium Businesses in our country.
As I promised in my first dialogue with TTPNG at ICC and others since that our focus is empowering PNGeans to get into businesses, this funding will hopefully assist both new startups and existing businesses.
I have requested our local banks including NDB to participate in this where we looking at very soft credit facility ( as low as 4% ) and easier terms including longer repayment period ( over 20 years ).
During Pangu Party dinner on the 21st of December more details of this initiative will be announced. But one thing is certain, this will not be distributed by DDAs or PGs or National government but through a Bank that meets our criteria to assist PNGean businesses.
We will have a nationwide cover on this program including 10% of this allocation be made available for Bouganvile businesses. So I encourage you all, instead of waiting for job, create job yourself as your participation in these many forums of debates shows that many of you have brilliant ideas.
The other day , a lady guest of our country in her effort to downplay our government, labeled our people as poor and can not afford school fees. Friends I don’t buy that.
Yes most of our people might not have liquid cash but they aren’t poor. They have land and they have brain full of ideas and talents. It’s all about linking resources available to our people with market, incentives and enabling environment to generate cash.
I want to encourage those of you here, educated you are, find a space in your life for business. As an example, I look at my cousin Johny Philip and few other non LNG based Huli business men/women including the non formally educated owners of property in our cities and towns; they built business not through political help or magic but starting small and working hard over many years.
If they have done it, rest of you can do it, you not in competition but complementary business because businesses build businesses. My government will promote business growth in agriculture, in tourism, in fisheries, in manufacturing, in technology, in industries , in transportation, etc etc.
Sisters and brothers, translate your brilliant ideas into simple business concepts and step out from insecurities to secure your life and your country’s going forward by going into business ventures.
I look at other business women and men from all parts of our country who started off well but are now struggling. I look at youths who come out of universities and colleges finding no formal jobs. I think of massive grade 8s, and 10s and 12 leavers with no opportunity for continual education. We want to assist you through this program. Think business, start business, this is part of taking back PNG.
A large part of ‘taking back PNG’ from the hands of greedy few is to ensure more of PNGEANS go into business instead of us being bystanders. If in the next 10 years we build up over 100,000 MSMEs, imagine how many jobs we would create and additional tax into our economy.
My dream for PNG to be the “richest black Christian nation” is not like John F Kennedy’s dream in 1961 to put few American to moon in 10 years, mine is the easier one if all of us dig in and do our part for our country.
President JFK did not live to see his dream fulfilled under 10 years when President Nixon saw N Armstrong walk on moon 20 July 1969. God willing I want to live in a country 10 years from now where landowners , forest owners and sea owners of PNG are in businesses.
Those of you who own timber resources, mobilise and do sustainable timber harvest with downstream focus. Those in calmer coastal provinces, go into fisheries, agriculture and tourism.
Highlanders let’s go back to coffee, tea, and other agriculture plus other businesses in transport , real estate , stores etc like what some of our seniors did, enough of talking and doing nothing.
Government is now incentivising business incubation in this program plus better simplified tax regimes we introducing for MSMEs.
Our partner banks will be told that with minimum of 200m per year allocation , that is an envelope of over K2billion from 2020 to 2030 just on MSME security and loan assistance that we will inject into the partner bank or banks to issue loans to interested and willing PNGeans.
Enough of talking and seeking job, join me in creating job on the business sector. Go back rally your tribe , your family , your network or yourself into business.
Sorry I write myself and in haste sometimes I do typo errors but I hope I brought few clarities.
I will despatch next write up on education policy where parents and local MPs plus governors will assist with 50% of cost at elementary to grade 12 and national government picks up the balance plus assisting school leavers through HELP for universities, colleges and technical vocational courses.
