Manus receives K7mil for road construction

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape gave K7 million to the Manus government during his visit to the province on Sunday for road construction.
The road will run from Lorengau to the west coast.
Marape said building the road would be costly and work would be done “one kilometre at a time.”
“Development has been focused on Port Moresby when other provinces needed it. Unlike Manus, my own electorate still does not have sealed roads despite being the host of oil and gas projects,” he said.
“This country has all the resources in the world yet poverty, lack of education, lack of employment and lack of meaningful engagement are rife.
“Our fish is stolen through illegal fishing, our logs harvested but we are still receiving a small percentage of the proceeds from the sale of round logs. And we are not making as much revenue as we would expect from selling oil, gas, gold and copper.”
Marape will be meeting stakeholders in the logging industry this week to discuss processing timber in the country.
“I understand that this may upset owners of logging businesses but it is time to start downstream processing,” he said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/manus-receives-k7mil-for-road-construction/

Funds issue delays project

By BARBARA DERUAGE - The National

THE new K469 million court house in Waigani, Port Moresby, is facing delays because of lack of funding, an official says.
The message was relayed to Prime Minister James Marape by infrastructure adviser Jason Stewart when he toured the site last Friday.
The project began in 2016.
Stewart said K340 million was needed to complete the project to house 15 court rooms including one to be used for ceremonial sittings, 13 judges chamber, offices for the National and Supreme Court Registrars and office space for corporate services.
He told Marape the court complex should be expected by the end of next year depending on the availability of funding.
“We have received funding over the last years but we still need more funding to complete the building,” he said.
We are hoping to complete the building by the end of next year should we receive funding in this budget and the budget next year.”
Marape, who was accompanied by Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika and court officials, said it would be an “iconic” structure when completed.
“This building will be a testament that we have a vibrant judiciary,” he said.
“When this is complete, this will be a monumental iconic structure that will signal to the world out there that our judiciary is strong and robust.
“We (will) ensure that this project is delivered on time and our judiciary can take residence here to dispense justice as accurately as possible.”
Sir Salika submitted a report on the project on Sept 26 in anticipation of the tabling of 2020 Budget next month.
Marape said he could not preempt the outcome of the budget process “but I will give you respect as the third arm of the government and hopefully we can complete the building at the earliest”.
Marape commended former Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia for his vision, foresight and leadership.
He also commended Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika who was then Sir Salamo’s deputy and members of the judiciary for the initiative.
The contractor is the China Railway Construction Engineering Corporation.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/funds-issue-delays-project/

Marape leads in Sino-PNG friendship

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape seized the opportunity to forge and strengthen Papua New Guinea (PNG)-China relations and friendship at a cultural show hosted by China’s Embassy in PNG at the International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sept 26.
Marape stayed on throughout the night of the reception, taking group photographs with the Fujian Acrobatic Troupe members and guests comprising local leaders and communities from both countries.
He only left the 500-people dinner-cultural show reception at about 11pm after a 15-minute colourful fireworks display that lit the sky above the ICC.
The reception, featuring an hour-long exclusive and spectacular performances by acrobats, dancers and a singer, was staged to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of The People’s Republic of China.
Marape said in his dinner address: “We have much to learn from China’s rise from poverty into the world’s second largest economy in just over 40 decades. It managed to lift some 700 million people out of poverty.
“Some 95 per cent of Papua New Guineans are still living in poverty. We look forward to greater mutual trade and growth between PNG and China because we want to break free from grant dependency.
“We recognised the One China Policy since establishing bilateral relations on Oct 12, 1976. China has never started any war … it only promoted world trade.
“We appreciate President Xi Jinping’s visit to PNG for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (last November) and China’s continuous socio-economic contributions to PNG.”
China’s ambassador to PNG Xue Bing said: “PNG, after 43 years of bilateral relations, is today the second largest Pacific trading partner (the largest being Solomon Islands) and the balance of payments is in PNG’s favour.
“To date, Chinese investments have created 6,000 jobs for Papua New Guineans. China’s technology-driven economy is today contributing to 30 per cent of global economic growth.
“China’s global economic development and activities will always remain as an opportunity for the rest of the world to benefit mutually.”


Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-leads-in-sino-png-friendship/

Undialu hopes to end fighting

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

Hela Province is host to a number of many natural resources projects that benefit Papua New Guinea.
The current biggest project, includes the PNG LNG Project source area of Hides, Angore, Kutubu, Moro, Moran and Mananda oil fields.
But despite its beauty and its resources tribal warfare continues to ravage their land as families are left homeless, children fatherless and women widowed at an early age as law and order issues continue to rise.
Cassie Kamuni is a 19-year-old widow with two young children aged three and one. Not only was her husband killed in a tribal fight but her father and two brothers as well.
“When I was 15 years old, they came in the night and killed my father and two brothers, my mother took us and we ran away back to her village.
“Without a father and brothers to stand up for us we were left defenseless, so my mum gave my hand in marriage to an old warrior who already had three wives, I was to become the fourth.
“But that is our way of life, one of his daughters is the same age as me, and we became friends.He was kind to me.”
“Though there were times when his other wives, older than I would attack me and beat me, we later became good friends and they loved my children and treated them as they were their own.
“But soon the tribal warfare began again, my husband left with his men after two weeks word reached us that he had died in battle.”
Cassie has gone back to her mother’s village but now with young ones to care for.
“All my husband’s worldly things were shared amongst the older sons; my children and I were given nothing.”
“We are now left at the mercy of my mother and her people to care for us,” she says.
Cassie says tribal fighting robbed her ofa normal childhood.
“If my father was not killed, I would be in high school now, but now I am a mother and again tribal fighting has robbed my children of a father.
“Such is the way of life for us, but it is how it has always been,” she says.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu says that Cassie’s story is just one of the many untold stories of his people.
“I can honestly say that tribal fighting has caused many damages, destructionand claimed many lives in Hela.
“Tribal fighting unlike the earthquake which just happened and is over, continues on a daily basis. Every day homes are burnt, people killed and it is an obstacle that we face every day.
“There areno actual figures, but I can say that there has been too many lives lost in tribal fights,” he said.
Undialu said that they have started holding peace mediation talks and called for the surrender of firearms but it would take a while.
“Though Hela is a resource-rich province in terms of oil and gas deposits, not everyone is benefiting from the extraction of these resources.
“That’s why, our focus is on building the welfare of individuals and that we can achieve through driving the agriculture sector and agribusinesses.”
Undialu said that the provincial government has started creating more job opportunities for their people in the hopes that warriors would lay down their arms.
“The provincial government in partnership with the LR Group from Israel established the Piwa Agro project at Tari producing around 8,000 chickens per month and Koroba Agro in the Koroba-Lake Kopiago electorate producing around 11,000 eggs per month.
“When you look at the benefits of these agribusinesses, they are generating a fair bit of income into the community.
“For instance, we have more than 30 local workers for Koroba Agro and if they are paid K350 per fortnight, you are looking at around K10,500 plus injected to the village every two weeks.
“In a month, it’s more than K20,000 put directly into people’s pockets.”
Undialu said the same was done for Piwa Agro and the price of eggs which used to be K1.50 each is now 70 toea.
“Our focus is to improve the welfare of our people and we hope to achieve that by investing more in the agriculture sector.”
He said the total investment made to establish the chicken farm was around K20million and the provincial government owns 80 per cent whilst the LR Group owns 20 per cent.
“Our next target is Wigman coffee and that will be the biggest agribusiness we will drive in the province with the aim to train around 5,000 farmers and plant around 15million coffee trees.”
Undialu hopes that with all these job opportunities people will start laying down their arms.
He said they were working on helping their people to become independent and also provide some stability in their lives so that people would have something to protect and will lay down their arms.
“We will also be providing materials for building homes for those who willingly surrender their firearms.
“If these people have permanent homes and jobs they will lay down arms because they would not want a tribal fight that would probably end with their homes being burnt.
“At the moment the homes are made of bush materials so they have no care; they can easily rebuild them again, but if we give them a stable home, they will want to protect them knowing it would not be easy to rebuild again if they get burnt down in a tribal fight,” he said.
Undialu said they were doing their best to address the issue within the province through their society context but also needed support from the National Government, non-governmental organisations, churches and other partners to address the ongoing tribal fights.


Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/undialu-hopes-to-end-fighting/

Botten praises Oil Search

Posted on The National

RETIRING Oil Search managing director Peter Botten believes the company is a leader in the resource sector in promoting the importance partnerships.
Botten, who has been in the position for 25 years, was proud to have worked with so many individuals.
“I am proud to have worked with so many outstanding and committed individuals, who have not only delivered shareholder value but have contributed so much to the social and economic development of Papua New Guinea, making a real positive impact to the lives of people in that country,” he said.
“I believe Oil Search is a leader in the resources sector in promoting the importance of partnerships with governments, communities and other stakeholders to drive socially responsible development, leveraging our respective strengths and building capacity in government and communities for positive social change.”
Oil Search’s chairman Rick Lee said the board appreciated Botten’s long and dedicated service to the company over the past 26 years.
“Under his leadership, Oil Search has grown from a small exploration and production company to a regionally significant oil, gas and LNG producer and exporter,” he said.
“Peter is recognised as one of the world’s most successful corporate executives, as well as a leader in environmental, social governance and corporate social responsibility.
“Peter has decided that as Oil Search embarks on its next phase of growth, with major expansion projects in both PNG and Alaska, now is the time to transition the leadership.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/botten-praises-oil-search/

Buai off police radar

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

POLICE have more important public safety and security issues to deal with daily than chasing buai vendors off streets and public places, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
He told The National that it was “just not practical” for police officers to be treating as a priority the enforcement of the ban.
“Police (should) be focusing on ensuring public safety, including running operations and addressing major crimes,” he said.
“Minor crimes can also be addressed. But it’s just not practical for police to be enforcing the betel nut ban policy.”
Police teams on foot or mobile patrol duties often clash with informal market vendors selling items such as buai on roadsides, confiscating the popular fruit and other items they can get their hands on.
Kramer told The National that the top priority for police officers was to provide safety and security to the people.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop earlier told The National that the 2013 betel nut ban policy had been amended with City Hall regulating it.
“But Parliament passed laws to make it illegal to sell betel nut in public places at the beginning of this year. It does not apply only to Port Moresby but to the rest of the country as well,” he said.
“Currently, the NCDC has not been enforcing the betel nut ban as we are waiting for the magisterial services and police to synchronise our effort before we start enforcing the ban again.”
Parkop said Parliament had amended the Summary Offence Act to have the buai ban policy become law, meaning that people would be prosecuted for selling betel nut in public places.
“Once the NCDC Magisterial Services and Police synchronise, NCDC will than start enforcing the betel nut ban. And people will then be arrested, charged and prosecuted in court for selling betel nut in public places,” he said.
Meanwhile, a police officer appeared in the Waigani Committal Court charged with murder in relation to an incident on Sept 16 in which buai vendor Peter Pamben was killed.
Constable John Selan Lavona, 40, from Rombucho village in Manus was charged with one count of wilful murder before Magistrate Cosmas Bidar.
“There are also other officers involved and yet to be arrested and charged. These are allegations made against you but investigations are yet to be completed,” Bidar said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/buai-off-police-radar/

Oil Search to lose veteran boss in 2020 amid big growth push

By Sonali Paul - Reuters

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea’s biggest company Oil Search Ltd said on Tuesday long-serving Managing Director Peter Botten will retire from the firm next year after 25 years in the role, just as the company enters a major growth phase in PNG and Alaska.

Botten will be succeeded by senior executive Keiran Wulff in February and will step down from the board on Aug. 25.

“Under his leadership, Oil Search has grown from a small exploration and production company to a regionally significant oil, gas and LNG producer and exporter,” Oil Search Chairman Rick Lee said in a statement.

Wulff currently leads Oil Search’s operations in Alaska, where the company recently doubled its stake in a promising oil prospect and aims to make a final investment decision in 2020 on a roughly $5 billion project.

“It’s pretty big shoes to fill. He was the most logical candidate. He’s certainly well regarded,” said Andy Forster, senior investment officer at Argo Investments, which owns Oil Search shares.

Botten is stepping down at a crucial time for Oil Search as its larger partners in two liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Papua New Guinea, Total SA and Exxon Mobil Corp, look to push through a $13 billion plan to expand gas exports.

Oil Search’s shares fell 1.9%, against a 0.6% drop in the S&P/ASX 200 energy index, reflecting some worry about Botten’s retirement, even though it had been well flagged.

“His departure presents risks to the company’s internal functioning alongside political and market engagement risks at a delicate point in Oil Search’s growth trajectory,” said Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic.

However, Wulff said Botten has set up the company well for the transition, recently creating PNG and Alaska divisions and bringing in experienced international managers.

He also played down concerns that political issues in Papua New Guinea could stall an agreement with Exxon on development of the P’nyang gas field, which is needed before a final investment decision on the PNG LNG expansion.

“We’re very confident. The reality is these projects are fundamental to Papua New Guinea long term and its aspirations ... to develop a broader based economy,” Wulff told Reuters in an interview.

Botten fended off an $8 billion takeover approach in 2015 and the company is again seen as vulnerable to a bid as its share price has slipped amid the political ructions in PNG, but Wulff was undaunted at the prospect.


“At the moment some of the issues in Papua New Guinea have affected us a little bit, but frankly, we’re well prepared for that. But we don’t see that as an issue going forward,” he said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oil-search-moves/oil-search-to-lose-veteran-boss-in-2020-amid-big-growth-push-idUSKBN1WG2PJ